Piastri excited for Melbourne return as Stella looks to keep momentum

Credit: McLaren Racing

McLaren’s Australian star, Oscar Piastri is set to make his second race debut at home this weekend as team principal Andrea Stella looks to keep the team’s momentum. 

2024 is a new season for McLaren compared to recent times, the team have boasted good points and finishes over the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races to edge out Mercedes. 

Following a superb rookie season, Piastri will arrive at Melbourne with confidence and the hope of scoring a good haul of points, as he did in his debut home race in 2023. Before the race weekend, the said:

“Australia, my home race! I’m so excited to be racing in front of a home crowd again. There’s no feeling like it. It’s going to be a great race week, and I’m sure that there will be an awesome atmosphere.”

“We’ve had a positive start, with a P4 finish in Saudi. I was back in the MTC last week reviewing all the data to see where we can maximise our performance. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of papaya in the crowd this weekend. Let’s go!”

The team has secured point-scoring weekends in the opening two rounds of the season. Lando Norris occupied P6 in Bahrain and P8 in Saudi Arabia while Piastri finished P8, in the season opener, and P4 in Saudi. 

In total, it means McLaren stands third in the constructors championship between second-placed Ferrari and fourth-placed Mercedes, their clear rivals for the season.

Following a good start to the season, compared to the team’s dismal starts in 2022 and 2023, team boss Stella wants the team to keep up the momentum. He said:

“We come away from the first double header of the season with good points and strong on-track performances from Lando and Oscar. It’s important we carry this momentum through whilst placing a keen focus on the areas we still need to develop, so that we’re in a position to fight for podiums.

“Melbourne is always a fantastic place to come to, and of course, it is also Oscar’s home race. I’m sure a lot of fans will be showing their support for him and the team this weekend. We’ll hopefully see some exciting racing and return with some more points.”

As the sport heads to Australia for the third round of the 2024 season, Melbourne has proved to be a good hunting ground for McLaren. 

In 2022 and 2023, the team secured a good haul of points in their trip to the Albert Park Circuit; 18 points in 2022 and 12 points in 2023. 

That’s all for the article; Piastri excited for Melbourne return as Stella looks to keep momentum!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Verstappen secures Saudi Arabia GP win as Bearman takes points on debut
• Verstappen claims first Saudi Arabian GP pole position by 0.3s
• Verstappen fastest in Saudi Arabia GP FP3 as Bearman makes F1 debut
• Audi to complete full takeover of Sauber in prep for 2026 F1 entry
• Bearman jumps in for Sainz at Saudi Arabian GP after requiring surgery
• 2024 Saudi Arabia GP: Alonso pips Russell and Verstappen in delayed FP2

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.