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Will Swanton is a Walkley Award-winning features writer. He’s won the Melbourne Press Club’s Harry Gordon Award for Australian Sports Journalist of the Year and he’s also a seven-time winner of Sport Australia Media Awards and a winner of the Peter Ruehl Award for Outstanding Columnist at the Kennedy Awards. He’s covered Test and World Cup cricket, State of Origin and Test rugby league, Test rugby union, international football, the NRL, AFL, UFC, world championship boxing, grand slam tennis, Formula One, the NBA Finals, Super Bowl, Melbourne Cups, the World Surf League, the Commonwealth Games, Paralympic Games and Olympic Games. He’s a News Awards finalist for Achievements in Storytelling.

Will Swanton

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FORMULA ONE:Motorsport

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri looks on in his car during the first practice session of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

And the Oscar goes to … the podium and then the world?

Can Oscar Piastri be world champion? ‘One hundred per cent,’ says McLaren boss Zak Brown. ‘And I wouldn’t bet against him this year.’

Will Swanton

FORMULA ONEMotorsport

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Jack Doohan of Australia and Alpine F1 meets some fans during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

What’s Doohan? Rumour mill hits overdrive as son of a gun makes Australian GP debut

Alpine has signed dynamic young Argentine Franco Colapinto as a reserve and possible replacement driver for Jack Doohan. The young Australian is bullish about the rumour mill going into overdrive.

Will Swanton

FORMULA ONESport

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren has his photo taken with fans during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Oscar and the importance of being champ

How does Piastri present himself? As an old man in a young man’s body. He’s reclining on a sofa and chatting away like he’s sipping coffee on a late-night TV show.

Will Swanton

Formula OneMotorsport

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 12: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Oracle Red Bull Racing talk at an Oracle Red Bull Racing event during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 12, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

He’s the maddest Max in anyone’s language

Max Verstappen’s an animal. He’s hardcore and let’s be honest about his rivals. On the Netflix doco, they can look a bit soft.

Will Swanton

FORMULA ONEMotorsport

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri attends a press conference on the third day of the Formula One pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on February 28, 2025. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Poles apart – the glaring weakness of Oscar Piastri

Oscar Piastri is not exactly bunny-hopping, conking out, freaking out and needing roadside assistance from RACV, but there is one flaw he must fix at the Australian Grand Prix.

Will Swanton

Australian Grand PrixMotorsport

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren walks with manager Mark Webber in the paddock during the Sprint/qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on November 30, 2024 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)

Webber backs Piastri to break the curse of Albert Park

Eye of newt and toe of frog – there’s been no homegrown winner of the Australian Grand Prix in 45 years. Mark Webber was among the victims of the curse of Albert Park, but he’s backing the nation’s rising star to finally break it.

Will Swanton

EXCLUSIVENation

Michelle Payne on her property in Miners Rest, Victoria, for SaturdayÃ•s International WomenÃ•s Day, and en years after she won the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Grieving cup winner a true role model for women

A resilient Michelle Payne, who tragically lost her sister this week, offers words of advice for young women and girls to mark International Women’s Day.

Will Swanton

FORMULA 1Motorsport

Friday 24th January 2025. The Australian.F1 driver Oscar Piastri in Melbourne ahead of the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix 2025.Photograph by Arsineh Houspian.

Oscar’s dreams are now goals

Oscar Piastri has a burning desire to win the World Drivers’ Championship … this year.

Will Swanton

Formula OneMotorsport

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 22: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB prepares in the garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 22, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

‘Worth the risk?’: Ricciardo bares his soul and signs off with a stiff drink

Daniel Ricciardo is racing for his career. It’s wet, slippery and deadly dangerous at the British Grand Prix. He asks himself, ‘Is it worth the risk?’ In other words, is this sport worth dying for?

Will Swanton

CRICKETCricket

Australia's captain Steve Smith watches the ball after playing a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Australia and Afghanistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 28, 2025. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

Smith triumphs in last captaincy stand with Sandpapergate forgiven

Win, lose or draw against India in Tuesday’s Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai, Stevie Smith is finishing his leadership duties on a note so high it could shatter glass.

Will Swanton

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