It’s Grand Prix week – the case for Oscar

It’s an exciting week for Australian motorsport. Not only is a record crowd already guaranteed, but for the first time there’s a real chance of an Australian on the podium – or even better, the top step… by AA columnist Chris Lambden.

Both Mark Webber and Danny Ric got close in their day – both recording a tantalising P4 best – the level of anticipation over Oscar Piastri’s chances is infectious.

What are the odds?

While qualifying may well have some effect on how the race pans out (and the forecast suggests a 50% chance of rain on Sunday), there’s general acceptance, from the Bahrain pre-season testing, that McLaren may have the slight advantage in race trim (with Ferrari/Mercedes and Red Bull close, but not close enough, behind).

If that’s the case, then the McLaren duo – Lando Norris and Oscar – go in with every chance.

If you put aside the natural leaning towards Norris by the heavily ‘British’ F1 media and accept McLaren’s clear pronouncement of equal number one status, both drivers are free to go for it.

We could be in for Senna-Prost or Mansell-Piquet all over again.

For his part, Piastri has spent the off-season analysing where he needs to improve.

His comment, reported by Fox Sports recently is revealing: “If I can qualify a bit higher up and give myself a better chance at the start of races, then that’s hopefully going to make life a little bit easier.”

“I’m not looking for a lot, I’m looking for a little bit. That’s not just going to come by trying to drive faster; there’s science that needs to go into that.” Analytical? Yup.

And then, his engineer Tom Stallard: “His rate of improvement hasn’t really dulled. He keeps learning, he keeps improving, he keeps wanting information, going through stuff. We discuss things. He goes and executes it.

“So for me, if you’re improving at that rate, what’s the limit? The limit comes when that improvement flattens off and, at the moment, we’ve seen no sign of that flattening off, so that’s obviously going well.”

Natural competitiveness aside, there seems to be an air of co-operation and quiet confidence at McLaren.

Certainly, the steady gains in car performance at Team Papaya look to be continuing – in no mean part due to the arrival of Rob Marshall, ex-Red Bull, at the team a year ago.

Marshall was seen as Adrian Newey’s somewhat unsung number two in design at RB and, I hear, that it was Oscar’s manager Mark Webber who pushed for the team to go after and get him.

Throw in today’s vote of confidence via an extended contract for Oscar and stars appear to be aligning.

Whether it’s this weekend or a bit further down the track, I’m one of those who believe that the future for Oscar Piastri is bright and exciting – and if 2025 kicks off with a result, then great.

While much attention will focus on Oscar at his home race this weekend, there’s so much else making it one of the most fascinating Melbourne season-openers for years.

Can Jack Doohan come out of the gates with a bang to quieten the reported pressure on his spot?

Can Liam Lawson surprise at Red Bull? (Yes). And of course, how will Lewis Hamilton stack up against Charles Leclerc in red?

Will the Red Bull struggle as reports are suggesting? If that’s the case, can Max enhance his reputation by ‘carrying’ it into the fray?

And what about Williams – can Carlos lift the once great team back into the contest further up the grid?

If you got a ticket to be there, enjoy it. If not, glue yourself to the TV. It should be a cracker.

Grand Prix week signals the launch for Auto Action’s all-new monthly printed magazine – coffee-table reading packed with in-depth features from around the motorsport world. On sale at newsagents from tomorrow.

A full F1 car by car preview can also be found in the LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION DIGITAL HERE

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