McLaren star Oscar Piastri mobbed in the Melbourne CBD ahead of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix 2026
Fairly or not, anything short of contention on Sunday will feel like a missed opportunity. He slid off onto the grass in heartbreaking scenes last year at Albert Park when he was battling his teammate, eventual drivers’ champion Lando Norris, for the lead.
But his focus is firmly fixed on this weekend’s season opener, and just how he’ll tame his 2026 car.
Piastri, like several other stars across the F1 grid – including four-time world champion Max Verstappen – is still wary of the new cars, given the raft of regulation changes they’ve been subject to.
“Hopefully I’ll be on pole Sunday,” Piastri said.
The scene from Jackalope Hotel on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula.
“I think the biggest change is the engines – the power units. They’re incredibly different to what we’ve had ever, really, in F1, but certainly in the last 10 years.
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“So I think everyone is slowly getting their heads around that. It’s going to look a bit different, probably, for the fans, this weekend compared to last year, but that’s probably the biggest thing [the engine].
“That influences everything; how you set up the car, how you drive the car, how you manage the battery, [and] how you do a race start. So the start is probably going to be pretty exciting.”
The 2026 cars represent one of the most significant technical overhauls in Formula 1 history, with smaller, lighter chassis, radically revised aerodynamics and a near 50/50 split between electric and combustion power under the new regulations.
But everyone will be fighting the new rules in the same way and the Melburnian has already proven himself to be one of the world’s best drivers.
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Beyond the noise of Albert Park this weekend, there is a bigger prize in view. Should Piastri mount a genuine title charge, as he did last year when he finished third on the final day of the season, he would again be aiming to become the first Australian since Alan Jones in 1980 to claim the world championship.
The one frustration for Piastri? He will, according to his team, be flying out of Melbourne on Monday or Tuesday at the latest, meaning he will miss his beloved Tigers playing their opening game of the season against arch rivals Carlton next Thursday night.
Piastri’s full interview with Felgate will be aired during her show on 3AW after 3pm on Wednesday.
