A ‘disappointing result’ from ‘positive’ Australian GP for Piastri
16th March 2025McLaren’s Oscar Piastri claims the final result of the Australian Grand Prix is ‘a disappointing result’ after a ‘positive weekend’ at home for the 23-year-old.
Feature image credit: McLaren Racing
Piastri entered his home race, in Melbourne, knowing he could finally break the duck to be the first Australian driver to bag the win at their home race. Something no Australian driver has done since the Grand Prix entered the Formula 1 world championship.
It was not meant to be this weekend. The Aussie started the race in second place, having been pipped by his championship-leading teammate Lando Norris by 0.084s.
Although Piastri regained second part-way through the race, having lost it to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the opening corner, both he and Norris lost control in the later laps of the race.
This followed a heavy, sudden rain shower which resulted in both Norris and Piastri taking to the gravel. Both drivers were able to continue on but Piastri quickly slid onto the wet grass at turn 13.
“A disappointing result after a really positive weekend,” Piastri said after the race. “I had the speed and I felt in very good shape to fight for the win. Unfortunately, at the end, I just lost it in the sudden rain.
“Thanks to the team for all their efforts and thanks to all the Australian fans who have given me so much good energy and support over the last few days. It means a lot.”
He did manage to return to the pits, albeit a lap down and at the bottom end of the pack, on lap 44, to slap on the intermediates.
Despite this and a safety car intervention, Piastri managed to recover to ninth by the chequered flag—in between the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc (8th) and Lewis Hamilton (10th).
On the other hand, Norris went on to secure the first victory of the 2025 season and naturally became the driver’s championship leader.
“It is very satisfying to begin the season with a victory, but we definitely have mixed feelings today because for a long time, it looked like we were on for a one-two finish,” commented McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella.
“Lando and Oscar were both driving brilliantly until they hit a sudden wall of rain in the final sector where, effectively, Oscar just paid a bigger price than Lando when they both went off track.
“He was just a little bit unlucky, but if the car keeps performing at this level of competitiveness, he won’t have to wait long to secure big results.”
Read more Formula 1 here:
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- Who finished where: 2025 F1 Australian GP – Qualifying
- Norris snatches pole from Piastri at Australian GP
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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.
