A newly discovered species of wasp, preserved in Burmese amber from the time of the dinosaurs, has been named after McLaren Formula One driver Oscar Piastri. The insect, found in northern Myanmar and dating from the middle Cretaceous period, was formally identified as 'Gwesped Piastrii' in a research article in the June issue of the academic journal Palaeoworld.
The specific epithet honours Piastri for his achievements in Formula One, and because the colour of the amber piece reminded the first author of McLaren's iconic orange. Piastri, 25, made his F1 debut in 2023 and has won nine grands prix.
Piastri is currently attending the Isle of Man TT races, where tragedy struck after a fatal crash in qualifying. British rider Daniel Ingham, 33, died following a collision at Doran's Bend during the third qualifying session. An experienced competitor, Ingham had won the 2024 Senior Manx Grand Prix and was making his TT debut.
Organisers suspended all sidecar racing for the remainder of the event after several serious incidents. Wednesday's qualifying was red-flagged after brothers Ryan and Callum Crowe crashed, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. On Tuesday, Maria Costello and Shaun Parker crashed, with Costello transferred to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Organisers stated: 'We recognise the long-standing history of sidecar racing at the TT... This decision has not been taken lightly. However, the safety of competitors, spectators, marshals, officials and all those involved in the event must remain the priority.' Piastri, set to compete in next weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, has yet to comment on his unique accolade.
