Piastri’s pace burns up the Albert Park track, goes fastest in final practice
There’s still the countdown to qualifying and Sunday’s Grand Prix, but Oscar Piastri’s hopes for a home podium are looking steady with the McLaren driver going fastest in the final practice session on Saturday.
The Melbourne-born driver is leading the grid with his McLaren after tearing around the track in 1.15.921 with Mercedes driver George Russell closely behind and reigning Red Bull world champion Max Verstappen third in hot conditions at Albert Park.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri goes fastest in FP3Credit: AP
Despite setting the pace on Friday, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was a quarter of a second off the pace on Saturday but still slightly ahead of teammate and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Alpine rookie and fellow Aussie driver Jack Doohan was 15th fastest – only three places behind his teammate Pierre Gasly.
It was disastrous afternoon for rookie driver Ollie Bearman who crashed minutes into his practice session. The 18-year-old dipped his wheels on the grass near turn 11 and spun off track into the gravel trap.
It’s an unfortunate start to the season for the young driver who also crashed in practice on Friday. Bearman is one of six new rookies this season including Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar.
Antonelli – who rose through Mercedes’ junior program – was the best performing rookie in practice and was close behind teammate Russell in the final practice today.
On Sunday, Piastri will seek to end the statistical anomaly that no Australian driver has ever stood on the Albert Park podium, despite all three drivers from these shores since Melbourne’s maiden race in 1996 having multiple victories on their CVs.
