Australian F1 Grand Prix results: Australia’s F1 dreams refuse to be dampened by weather

As rain tumbles down at Albert Park, Oscar Piastri’s team says it is prepared for all scenarios the weather may bring as its young star chases a special Aussie achievement.

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri speaks at a press conference after coming in second in the qualifying session of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne on Saturday. Picture: William West/AFP

Wet weather is drenching Albert Park. The Australian Grand Prix becomes a wet and wild lottery if the heavy rain persists. This morning’s Supercars race was abandoned when the track became dangerously slippery before the F3 event featured multiple crashes and safety cars. Drama at every turn.

“Very, very unpredictable conditions and a very unpredictable podium,” says former world champion Damon Hill.

The forecast is for slightly clearer conditions when Australia’s Oscar Piastri tries to win his home GP later this afternoon but a couple ahead of the Formula One season-opener at 3pm, there’s no sign of improvement.

“It’s going to be a pretty wild day. Thanks to the fans for sticking out the weather. It makes me want to push even more,” Piastri declared.

McLaren’s Lando Norris will start from pole position, followed by Piastri, who says: “It’s great to start the year on the front row. It’s brilliant to have both of us there. It may be one position further back than I would have liked but it’s a good way to go into the first race of the year. Overall, I’m happy with how qualifying went and we’ve got solid pace in the car. We’ll just have to see how it all plays out with the weather. I’m looking forward to it.”

Norris says of topping qualifying: “It’s the perfect way to start the year. A huge congratulations to the team. Everyone at McLaren has done an amazing job to continue from where we were at the end of last season, with another front row lockout. But it’s only quallies, so we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. We know it’s going to be a tricky race but we’ve got two cars in the best positions. I’m confident in the car’s pace but we’ve also never run in the wet and our competition is very strong. There will be many opportunities for everyone tomorrow. Let’s wait and see what happens.”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says matter-of-factly: “The forecast suggests it may be an eventful race. We’re focusing on preparations for multiple scenarios we may face.”

“I think it will be chaos,” says Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies. Mercedes driver George Russell says a rain-affected GP will be “anyone’s game.”

There’s as many “Piastri 81” shirts being worn in Melbourne as “Sam Kerr 20’’ kits during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. His car zooms by the Brabham Stand in a flash and then everyone keeps an eye on the clock for the rest of his cannonball laps.

The place goes bonkers when Piastri posts 1min15.180sec and looks set to grab pole position – only for his McLaren teammate Lando Norris to pip him at the post by 0.084 of a second.

The roars for Piastri are deafening. “Pretty happy,” he said. “It’s obviously great to start the year on the front row, probably one position further back than I would have liked, but it’s a great start to the year. Great to have the team on the front row.

“Now we’ll reset and see what tomorrow has in store but pretty happy with how qualifying went. Not quite enough but it’s the start of a long season so I’m pretty happy with a solid start. Maybe I left a little bit out there on the table.”

We know the historical backdrop. No Australian has won the race since Alan Jones in 1980. No Australian has finished on the podium since the race moved to Albert Park in 1996.

We thought Piastri’s McLaren was one of the quickest cars in Formula One and now we know it for a fact. A nerve-shredding, thrillingly close GP is on the cards – less than a second separates the top 10 drivers on the grid and heavy rain is forecast.

Oscar Piastri of Australia driving a McLaren MCL39 Mercedes on the track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia. Picture: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Norris said: “It’s the perfect way to start the year with a one-two. I know tomorrow is going to be a tricky race but today was the perfect start. The car is extremely quick and when you put it together it’s unbelievable. It’s just difficult to put it together. I managed to pull it (pole position) off so I’m very happy. I’m never going to get ahead of myself, I’m not that kind of guy, but I’m confident in the car. We’ll see tomorrow.”

Max Verstappen said: “Dry or wet weather, in the wet of course some crazy things can happen. We know around here that it can be quite slippery.”

Second-placed qualifier Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren pole position qualifier Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren and third-placer Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing. Picture: Getty Images

Piastri’s countryman Jack Doohan qualified 14th and was beaten by his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly (tenth). It wasn’t a great outing for New Zealand’s Liam Lawson (18th), who couldn’t get his Red Bull out of the first qualifying stage as All Blacks legend Dan Carter watched from pit lane.

Another rookie in a prestigious team, Italy’s Kimi Antonelli, flopped to qualify in 16th. The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc (seventh) and Lewis Hamilton (eighth) were disappointing while Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda exceeded all expectations to qualify fifth.