Go get ’em: Rock-solid Oscar Piastri sets the Formula One track on fire

He’s world No. 1 and it’s getting bigger. He’s making mincemeat of reigning champion Max Verstappen. Lando Norris isn’t a laughing stock and yet the joke’s on anyone at McLaren who thought the Briton was team’s best.

Oscar Piastri was sitting across the table at a Melbourne hotel. He reminded me of Ash Barty for rock-solidness; for an understated yet unshakeable self-belief; for an almost imperceptible specialness that I cannot adequately describe. I asked how he expected to feel when the lights went out for the start of a Formula One season that promised the world.

We were chinwagging a month before Piastri’s backyard bash called the Australian Grand Prix. He gave a thousand-yard stare as if placing himself on the grid at Albert Park and said: “Let’s go get ’em.”

Those words burned on my brain. He knew he had a fast McLaren car at his disposal. Go get ’em. He knew pole positions were at his mercy if he stopped bludging in qualifying. Go get ’em. He knew podiums were there for the devouring. Go get ’em. He knew the rapturous achievement of a Formula One world drivers’ championship was a ravishing possibility. Go get ’em.

It was just a very cool quote from a very cool bloke. I wish I could do justice to how he said it. He wasn’t beating his fist on our fancy table – mind the sparkling mineral water – and declaring he was the best driver in the world. He was merely saying he would have a go. It sounded like a team venture. As if he was talking to all Australian sports lovers, all the nation’s revheads and all members of the booming audience for F1 in this country – let’s go get a world title.

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri celebrates on the podium after winning the 2025 Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix. Picture: AFP

Well, Piastri is going and getting ’em at every high-speed, breakneck, hair-raising turn. He went and got the Chinese Grand Prix; he went and got the Bahrain GP; he went and got the Saudi Arabian GP in the wee hours (AEST) of Easter Monday to grab the championship lead. I haven’t set an alarm for 1am to watch an Australian athlete since Barty was tap-dancing her way to the Wimbledon title. Some athletes are worth going and getting a post-midnight cuppa for.

He’s world No. 1. This is big, and getting bigger. He’s making mincemeat of Max Verstappen. Lando Norris isn’t a laughing stock and yet the joke’s on anyone at McLaren who thought Piastri was inferior. The 24-year-old Melburnian took the ­chequered flag at Jeddah from Red Bull’s Verstappen, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Norris. Keep this up and he could coast to a world championship with cigar in mouth and one elbow out the side of his car.

Jeddah’s first corner was telling. Verstappen started on pole. Piastri was next. Going wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen is the toughest gig in F1. Piastri went and got the four-time world champion. Owned the first corner, forcing Verstappen out of bounds. Piastri told his team “He needs to give that back. I was ahead.” It wasn’t quite Gorden Tallis throwing Brett Hodgson over the sideline in State of Origin, but close. Verstappen copped a 5.5-second penalty.

Piastri didn’t put a wheel wrong. Shut the gate, no more bets, last drinks, thanks for coming, fat ladies were singing their hearts out from that first corner. He won by nearly three seconds to prove his impeccable world title credentials. The sixth race of F1’s globetrotting 24-race schedule will be the mega-colourful Miami Grand Prix on May 4.

Piastri went and got the race by going and getting the first corner. “Once I got on the inside, I wasn’t coming out of turn one in second,” Piastri said. “I tried my best and obviously the stewards had to get involved. I thought I was plenty far enough up, and in the end that’s what got me the race. Very happy with all the work we’ve been doing with the starts and that’s what won us the race today.”

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives off the Jeddah circuit after clashing with McLaren's Oscar Piastri at the first corner. Picture: AFP

Verstappen was fortunate to be penalised 5.5sec. He could still race in out front for an extended period, basking in the clean air, rather than being forced to hit the brakes and concede first place. ­Piastri went and got him anyway. Unlike at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where Piastri raced in suffocating heat without hydration, his drink bottle was in full working order.

“That was one of our biggest upgrades this week. The drinks bottle was working!” Piastri grinned. “That was good. Got some fluids onboard, which was nice. It’s always a tough race around here. It’s a little bit later in the year than usual, which I think is a little bit warmer, a little bit more humid and definitely one of the toughest races I’ve had in my career. Glad I could come out on top in it but we still need a bit more. Max was a little bit too close for our liking but it was a great race and a great weekend.”

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri celebrates after winning in Saudi Arabia. Picture: AP

Verstappen doesn’t suffer fools. He eats most rivals alive in the psychological and racing battles. Yet he respects Piastri’s rock-solidness; the under­stated yet unshakeable self-belief; the almost imperceptible specialness that cannot be adequately described.

“People forget a little bit that last year was his second year,” Verstappen said. “Now he’s in his third year and he’s very solid. He’s very calm in his approach and I like that. It shows on track. He delivers when he has to and barely makes mistakes. That’s what you need when you want to fight for a championship. I think with Mark (Webber) by his side, he’s helping him a lot. It’s great. At the end of the day, Oscar is using his talent and that’s great to see.”

An email landed recently stating the Australian most Googled by Australians last year was Alex de Minaur. I requested an update from Rocket Agency, the digital marketing firm who did the research. Demon has done his dash.

The Australian most Googled by Australians this year is Piastri. He’s going and getting a substantial following. Count me in.