McLaren boss Zak Brown hails the development of Oscar Piastri ahead of qualifying for the Australian F1 Grand Prix

McLaren boss Zak Brown has hailed Oscar Piastri’s development 12 months after the hometown hero’s Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix debut.

The Melbourne-born driver is hoping to become the first Australian since F1 began racing at Albert Park to secure a podium finish.

Piastri’s team-mate Lando Norris went fastest in the first practice of the weekend on Friday, giving triple world champion Max Verstappen a positive sign for McLaren’s bid to match it with powerhouses Red Bull and Ferrari.

Piastri was 10th fastest, one place ahead of fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo in his first drive in Melbourne since 2022, and was seventh in P2.

Verstappen was second again in the second practice, won by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

McLaren boss Zak Brown has praised the way Piastri has developed in his first 12 months in Formula 1

Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz made a smooth return to the track after the Spaniard was forced to miss the Saudi Arabia race due to appendicitis surgery two weeks ago.

Brown was impressed by how quickly Piastri has adapted to life as a Formula 1 driver.

“Last year (in Melbourne) was also a very difficult start to the year (on track for McLaren),” Brown said on Friday.

‘On top of the pressure of being a rookie and coming to your first hometown race, you’re also in a race car that’s not that strong.

‘He’s got a much better race car that he’s in (this year) so he’s definitely enjoying it and (it’s) nice to see him mature.

“He’s already a mature young man, but you can definitely see a year on that he’s got a higher level of confidence because he knows what to expect and I think that’s just going to give even more better performance with the helmet on.’

Piastri and McLaren are hoping for a podium finish in Melbourne with final practice and qualifying held on Saturday

Piastri earned his first F1 points at Albert Park last season and has a better car this time around along with a year of experience

Ten minutes were lost during the first one-hour practice session when Alex Albon lost control of his Williams and crashed into a wall.

The Thai driver escaped unhurt, but a tire flew from his vehicle and there appeared to be extensive damage to the gearbox.

Albon failed to enter P2, but Williams later announced that he would take over teammate Logan Sargeant’s car for Sunday’s race as Albon was unable to switch to a reserve car.

Albert Park has been a graveyard for Australian drivers, with Mark Webber – Piastri’s mentor – and Ricciardo never placing better than fourth on the circuit during their long careers.

Ricciardo famously finished the 2014 race in second but was stripped of his place on the podium after being disqualified.

Qualifying takes place on Saturday, prior to Sunday’s race.

Verstappen will start as a hot favorite to make it three wins in a row to open his title defence, having won the last three championships.