Oscar Piastri sets McLaren demand in ‘big step’ warning
Australian driver Oscar Piastri is urging McLaren to make a significant performance leap overnight ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, as he anticipates his main rivals will also improve.
During FP2 at his home race, Piastri outperformed Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell to take the top spot on the timesheets, with the Mercedes duo in second and third places.
Friday’s on-track action in Melbourne saw a competitive showing from the top four teams, with Ferrari and Red Bull showing strong performances in the early stages at Albert Park.
Piastri ended the first session in sixth place but was the fastest among those using the Mercedes power unit, with Antonelli and Russell close behind in the standings.
Reflecting on the day’s events, Piastri noted the smoother performance in FP2 compared to FP1 and emphasized the importance of learning and adapting to the new challenges this season brings.
Looking ahead, Piastri acknowledged the need to analyze and implement lessons learned to keep pace with the expected improvements from competitors: “Yeah, try to see what we’ve learned today, because I think everyone’s going to find a big step overnight. So, I think we need to try and do the same.”
