The countdown is over, and the first free practice session of the F1 weekend in Australia – home of Jack Doohan and Oscar Piastri – is just hours away.
The Albert Park circuit in Melbourne will kick off the new Formula 1 season, marking the first race of the calendar since the 2019 championship, when Lando Norris, George Russell, and Alex Albon made their debut that year; waving the flag of the Outback, however, was Daniel Ricciardo with Renault F1 Team (now BWT Alpine F1 Team). In 2025, the Grand Prix in the Land of Kangaroos – starting this weekend at night in Italy – will be the home race for Oscar Piastri, recently locked down by McLaren with a multi-year contract, and for Jack Doohan, who begins his first season in the top category with Alpine.
After the performances of the new cars during the three-day Bahrain tests, it’s now time to get serious in Australia, a moment when every second counts, and with it, the position in the standings.
Oscar Piastri, beginning his third season in Formula 1 and with two wins under his belt, will arrive at the Italian track with a car that seems to be the favorite for the top step of the podium, and with it, he could make history as the first Australian to win the Grand Prix on his home soil. However, the young driver doesn’t stir the media’s passions, maintaining a balance between hopes and the reality of the track.
“I don’t know. We’ll see. […] The tests went pretty well, but you never really know where the others are. I think we’re fairly satisfied with how the tests went, but Melbourne is a completely different track from Bahrain. The weather will be different and apparently it will change every hour. It’s going to be an interesting weekend, but we hope to be at the top of the standings. How high? We’ll find out on Saturday,” said Piastri in an interview with F1 on the media day.
Additionally, the Australian also spoke about his recent renewal with Andrea Stella’s team, announced during the race weekend in his home country. “It was a mutual decision,” he replied when asked about the reasons for accepting such a long contract with the Papaya team.
“I was already under contract for this year and next, but it seemed like a natural progression to sign for an even longer period. Last year was incredible for the team. My two years at McLaren have been amazing—thinking about where we were when I arrived, and now we’re Constructors’ Champions. It made a lot of sense for me to continue and build with the team. Lando and I will both be here for a long time, Andrea has a multi-year contract, as do Zak and the key engineers. So, for me, it was the obvious choice, and I think it was the same for the team “.
Jack Doohan ahead of the Australian Grand Prix: “I want to enjoy every moment on track as if it were my last”
After a long wait behind the scenes, the 2003-born driver and son of racing legend will begin his Formula 1 adventure with the Enstone team, alongside Pierre Gasly, starting from his home country. Despite the threat of Franco Colapinto, eagerly awaiting the first mistake from the Australian that could allow him to return to the track after last season with Williams, Jack Doohan has done his homework and seems to know the steps necessary to keep his seat within Flavio Briatore’s team, where the task of judging the young driver’s decisions was once placed.
The same Australian, responding to a question from Damien McCartney (Nine’s Wild World of Sports), commented on the rumors circulating about the length of his career in the top category, suggesting that he might soon close this chapter: “I have a contract for at least this year, if not longer. I have one guy chasing my seat, but we actually have four now, if you didn’t notice, we have four reserves, you have all four of them, not just Franco, probably wants my seat and if not, Pierre’s as well. So, you know, I’m going to enjoy, honestly, every race as if it’s my last, because I want to enjoy every moment I’m in the car. There’s not much else to add on that.”
Speaking about the objectives for the first race of this exciting season, the Australian listed his priorities: “Have fun. Enjoy every moment on track because that’s why I’m here: I love what I do. And work hard with the team, making sure to maximize everything we’ve learned from the Bahrain tests and apply it to this weekend, trying to maximize the car’s potential “.
Photo: FIA, McLaren.