Oscar Piastri will be racing on home turf at the upcoming Australian GP. The 23-year-old McLaren driver grew up in Melbourne, just a few kilometers from the Albert Park Circuit. With a highly competitive MCL39 at his disposal, Piastri naturally hopes to vie for victory in Australia. This would also directly fuel his title ambitions – after all, all drivers start with zero points leading up to the first race.
Oscar Piastri looked back on the opening day in Melbourne with satisfaction: during the morning and afternoon sessions, he clocked the fourth and second fastest times respectively. Moreover, McLaren, which currently enjoys the role of favorite, encountered no major problems. “It was quite encouraging,” Piastri summarized his Friday performances. “I think the pace was very good. There are a few things we can try to tailor the car more to my liking, but the underlying pace is very strong. I’m quite satisfied.”
Despite being outperformed by his teammate Lando Norris in both training sessions, Piastri believes there’s still much that can change over the rest of the weekend. “I’m not sure what today’s results mean yet,” he added. “I think anything can happen in the rest of the weekend, but for now, everything feels good.” Heavy rain is expected during the Grand Prix in Melbourne, which also complicates the selection of the right car setup. “The weather will play a role regardless, but fundamentally, the car is good,” Piastri assured.
Aiming for the Top Step
There’s a high chance that Piastri will use his MCL39 to claim a spot in the history books. A podium finish for the young driver would already be a unique achievement; no Australian has ever finished in the top three during their home race. However, he’s looking beyond just a spot on the podium. “Ferrari looked pretty fast today, and we can’t rule out Mercedes,” he continued. “So yes, I think it looks good, but we don’t just want to aim for the podium, we want to aim for the top step.”
With a victory in Melbourne, Piastri would also take the lead in the championship. This would immediately end Max Verstappen‘s record, who has been leading the championship since May 2022.
