The Australian Grand Prix has had a funny effect on our homegrown talents across the years. Despite Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo having capable podium-scoring machinery at the hands of Red Bull Racing, neither managed the feat.
The Australian Grand Prix returns this week as the season opener for the first time since the infamous 2020 cancellation and maybe, just maybe, one of our own can claim the top step.
History has not been favourable for Australians since the debut of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide in 1985. It took until 2002 for a full-time race driver to come back to an Australian in the form of Mark Webber.
Whilst he did stand on the podium in 2002, it was for finishing fifth in a Minardi. A miraculous achievement but awards no trophy. His Red Bull successor Daniel Ricciardo also stood on the podium and lifted the second-place trophy in 2014. But he was disqualified the next day for breaching fuel consumption regulations.
In 2025, we have two Australians on the grid: Jack Doohan racing for Alpine and Oscar Piastri for McLaren. No offence to Doohan but as it’s his second Grand Prix and in a midfield car, he is unlikely to podium on Sunday. Oscar Piastri on the other hand has a real opportunity.
Oscar Piastri. (Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)
McLaren is a serious contender and had standout race pace in Bahrain for pre-season testing. The two-time Grand Prix winner could be contested by just a handful of drivers.
Mixed conditions on Sunday and the risk of rain could bring Red Bull and Max Verstappen into contention but the podium looks to be contested by McLaren and Ferrari.
Can he win? For sure he can and I have predicted this result to occur. Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton all will have an opportunity to dictate proceedings and are more experienced world calibre drivers. For Piastri, he stands out due to his youth and it being just his third season.
Many expect him to challenge Norris much further this season if he can improve on his qualifying performances. That’s where his weekend will be made or his hopes dashed. Qualifying near the front or even on pole and Piastri’s attacking calibre will give him a fighting chance but the Melbournian risks leaving himself too much work to do.
I believe Oscar Piastri will be Australia’s first podium scorer at their home race after the Grand Prix. There is little doubt the crowd at Albert Park and fans worldwide would appreciate the story that could be told.
If he wins, he will send Melbourne into raptures. But that’s a big if.
Either way, don’t take your eyes off the Australian Grand Prix this weekend as Formula 1 commences for 2025 in our backyard.
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