McLaren has captured the front row for the 2025 Formula One season opener in Melbourne, with Oscar Piastri clinching P2 right behind his teammate, Lando Norris.
Reflecting on his qualifying run, Piastri expressed satisfaction with his performance while recognising the narrow margins that kept him from securing Pole Position.
“I felt quite pleased with it,” Piastri remarked. “This weekend, I’ve been content with the laps I’ve delivered and how we’ve executed our strategies.”
“On the final lap – there’s nothing major I regret. The gap is indeed tight; I just needed that fraction more.”
As he looks forward to the race tomorrow, Piastri is optimistic about McLaren’s performance in both dry and wet conditions.
“I felt quite good yesterday. If it’s dry, I believe we’re in a strong position. If it rains, it’s a bit uncertain.”
“There are numerous areas that can catch drivers out here. A few corners, which aren’t really corners in the dry, transform into significant challenges in the wet. It certainly becomes a lot trickier, especially with all the white lines around.”
The Melbourne crowd has shown up in droves to support their local hero, with numerous OP shirts visible throughout the stands. Piastri is feeling the buzz more than ever this year.
“This is the most at ease I’ve felt at my home race,” he admitted.
“The first year was quite overwhelming, last year was still significant, but this time I’ve managed to appreciate it a bit more. It might be because I’m feeling more confident in the car; perhaps that’s the reason. I’ve really enjoyed the support, and I sense that it has increased slightly since last year. It’s incredible how things change when you start winning.”
With McLaren’s first front-row lockout since 2012, Piastri will be striving for a dream result in front of his hometown fans tomorrow.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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