Oscar Piastri cool on prospects of breakthrough win at Australian Grand Prix
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McLaren's Oscar Piastri during Formula One pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on Feb 11, 2026.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Oscar Piastri downplays expectations of a home Australian Grand Prix win, stating McLaren is not as dominant as last year despite being "in the mix at the front."
- Piastri dismisses past disappointments, including missing the 2025 title and team issues, focusing on current technical changes without extra home race pressure.
- Lewis Hamilton declared "no holding back" for his 20th F1 season, expressing gratitude for his journey and continued focus on his dream.
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MELBOURNE – Oscar Piastri has moved to cool expectations of a drought-ending win at his home Australian Grand Prix, insisting McLaren are not the dominant force that arrived at Albert Park 12 months ago.
After seven race wins in 2025 and third place in the drivers’ championship, Piastri has generated huge buzz in his hometown Melbourne. His bid to become the first Australian winner since the race joined Formula One in 1985 is expected to draw record crowds.
McLaren qualified both cars at the front of the grid in 2025 and Lando Norris won the season-opener on a wet track, but Piastri said he had “no idea” whether he could win in 2026 as the team grapple with F1’s biggest technical overhaul in decades.
“Based off testing, we seem like we’re in the mix at the front,” he said. “I certainly wouldn’t be saying that we’re favourite to be winning. The picture doesn’t look quite as positive for us at the moment as it did 12 months ago.
“We’re in the mix, but we need to find a bit more.”
Piastri led the 2025 championship by 34 points before a mid-season slump opened the door for British teammate Norris to claim his maiden title.
He said the disappointment of missing out had faded and he had little time to dwell on the past due to the short off-season and the need to get up to speed with the technical changes.
The 24-year-old also said he felt no extra burden to perform at his home race, a year after finishing ninth following a skid into the grass.
“Obviously last year’s race didn’t end how I wanted, but you know, there’s no extra pressure to try and make up for that or anything,” he said. “We’ve got enough challenges to not be worrying about that.”
Norris may again loom as his toughest adversary, even with pre-season buzz surrounding Mercedes and Ferrari following their positive winter testing.
McLaren gave equal treatment to Piastri and Norris in 2025, although there were controversies involving the application of the team’s so-called “papaya rules”.
One involved the Australian letting Norris pass after a botched pit stop by the team at Monza.
Piastri said any issues from last season had been dealt with internally and the team had moved on.
“We’re not going to be swopping each other around for no reason (when racing),” he said.
“Again, if there’s any issues or tense moments that arise, then we’ll deal with it as a team, as we do and try to make some progress.”
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton has promised “no holding back” ahead of the start of his 20th campaign in F1.
The 41-year-old said on Instagram: “Twenty seasons as an F1 driver. It’s hard to even grasp the reality of that number.
“It started with a dream. A dream some called ridiculous and said would never amount to anything. Despite that, the dream never changed, and I never stopped chasing it...
“I’m grateful for the doubters and for the ones who tried to knock me down, too. I’m still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream. No holding back.” REUTERS
