F1: Oscar Piastri’s ‘rookie stripes’ off as McLaren backs Aussie star

The best is yet to come from Australian Oscar Piastri as his ‘rookie stripes’ have disappeared, according to McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Find out why inside.

The best is yet to come from Australian Oscar Piastri as his ‘rookie stripes’ have disappeared according to McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

Piastri last year became the third Australian, behind Mark Webber and Dan Ricciardo, to score points in his first Australian Grand Prix.

It was also his first ever points in Formula 1.

As he enters his second season in the category the expectations are also higher with Piastri in contention to become the first ever Australian to secure a podium in their home Grand Prix.

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri has been backed to succeed. Picture: AFP

Brown on Friday said he’s ready to handle the pressure after gaining plenty of confidence in the past 12 months with McLaren.

“He continues to get faster and faster,” the McLaren CEO said.

“He’s now had a year under his belt, he knows what to expect, he has a much better car he’s sitting in.

“He’s already a mature young man but you can definitely see a year on he has a higher level of confidence because he knows what to expect and that will drive an even better performance with his helmet on.”

Oscar Piastri banked the first F1 points of his career in Australia last year. Picture: Formula 1 via Getty Images

Brown said the new-found confidence came from not being a rookie anymore.

“We are two races in but we are seeing his rookie stripes off now,” he said.

“His Fridays he gets on the pace right away.

“He doesn’t really make mistakes, he drives extremely fast.

“In the first two races of the year it is the closest driver pairing (Norris and Piastri) in the field.

“It’s exactly what you want as a team.”

McLaren Chief Executive Officer Zak Brown said the team had lifted their game. Picture: Getty Images

Brown added McLaren lifting their game had helped.

“Last year was also a difficult start to the year (for Piastri),” he said.

“Having the added pressure of being a rookie and then coming to your first home race and you are also racing in a car that is not that strong.

“It’s a lot better this time around.

“This (Australia last year) was the first race we scored points last year and even that we inherited quite a few after the incident at the very end of the race.

“I feel like we picked up (this year) where we left off in the second half of last year (when we were strong).”

Meanwhile, there is optimism at Daniel Ricciardo’s team RB Honda it can be in the points this weekend.

There is renewed optimism that RB Honda drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda can be among the points. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Australian’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda was in the top five in the first practice session with Ricciardo just outside of the top 10.

But there is confidence from RB Honda CEO Peter Bayer this weekend can be successful.

The team in the past three years has made the points in Australia.

“We have brought a new rear wing, which we have on both cars, which seems to work and both drivers felt really good in the car,” Bayer said.

“For Daniel we think we know what to do (to do well) so we’ll see.

“It’s only practice one but we need to believe in it (success).”