Melbourne boy Piastri proud to fly flag for Australia in F1 fast lane

Australia’s newest Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri says he will focus entirely on his own progression as he aims to get up to speed with the sport’s top flight this year.

Piastri will compete for McLaren in his maiden season as a regular driver, filling the void left by fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who was jettisoned by the team with a year left on his contract.

Piastri, 21, has had a sensational rise to the elite level, winning Formula 3 (2020) and Formula 2 (2021) titles before sitting on the sidelines as Alpine’s Formula 1 reserve driver last year.

Self-described Melbourne boy Oscar Piastri will race for McLaren this year. Credit:Getty

Asked what he could achieve in 2023, in his first year on the grid, Piastri said he would need time to find his feet.

“I think for the beginning of the year, obviously my first year in F1, a new team for me with McLaren and I haven’t raced for over a year, there’ll be some rust there at the beginning,” Piastri said at the launch of McLaren’s car.

“I need to just focus on myself and working with my team and trying to get back up to speed as quickly as possible because there are just some things without racing you can’t really train [for]. That’s the first port of call.

“I’m well and truly focused on where I’m going to be, first and foremost. If that’s racing at the very front, that’s a win.

“I’m not too worried about where the others are just yet. I personally have got a lot on my plate to get up to speed with, so we’ll see what happens.”

Piastri said it was an honour to represent Australia in Formula 1, following in the footsteps of Sir Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, Mark Webber and Ricciardo.

“It is nice to be the next Aussie into F1, there is usually only one of us at a time, so to be the Aussie on the grid now is a special feeling,” Piastri told News Corp.

“There is a big sense of pride being the only Aussie on the grid, but that’s not to say that I wouldn’t enjoy having fellow Aussies on the grid there, too.

“Looking back on the past … Alan Jones and Sir Jack are two greats of Australian motorsport and Mark, obviously there is a personal connection there being my manager, and obviously Daniel with his race wins, too.

“I want to be the next Aussie who has got success in the sport … it is an inspiration for me to do my country proud.”

The season starts in late March with the Bahrain Grand Prix, followed by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix a week later, and then the Australian Grand Prix in early April.

It’ll be the first time in a long time the Melbourne-born Piastri has raced in his home country.

“I went last year to the grand prix in Melbourne as a reserve driver and I have got somewhat of an expectation of what to expect,” Piastri said.

“Melbourne last year was already a bit of an experience … so I am expecting it to be pretty nuts.

“I know it’s an even bigger crowd than last year, which is awesome, so it will be chaos, but that’s always a good thing.

“It will be special, I think being a Melbourne boy as well, that’s a nice story there. I remember when I was a kid being able to hear the cars from where my parents used to live six or seven kilometres from the track, so I have got some special memories there.

“It’s going to be my first race in Australia outside of go karts, full stop, so, it’s been a while since I’ve raced at home.

“It’s definitely going to be an experience I will never forget in Melbourne.”

While he’s used to winning, Piastri said he was realistic about what he could achieve in Formula 1 in his maiden campaign.

“I think compared to not racing last year, it’s already a step forward, so that’s good,” he said at the McLaren launch.

“I know going into this year realistically we’re probably not going to be fighting for wins, so I think if we can go out there and win that would be fantastic, but I’m being realistic.

“It’ll take a little bit of getting used to. I think every driver who comes into F1 is normally there because they’ve won a lot in the junior categories, so for 99 per cent of drivers it’s a pretty normal experience.”

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