People in orange McLaren ponchos faced the rainy weather when they arrived en masse for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix on Sunday to watch Oscar Piastri become Australia’s first winner at home in four decades. His chances died following unfortunate events even though he hails from Melbourne.
Local Hero’s Quest For Home Victory
The event ended for Piastri when he hit gravel during lap 44 causing his car to slide onto grassy terrain at Albert Park. Second-place behind Lando Norris stood as his best position at that time. Despite recovering his car onto the track Piastri found himself behind most competitors who had bypassed his position before he rejoined the race. The ninth-place finish among fourteen cars after three safety car interruptions proves to be a solid achievement.
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Promising Start Turns To Disappointment
Throughout the entire history of Formula One events at the Australian venue the drivers based in Australia have received unfavorable treatment. In 2014 Daniel Ricciardo earned his sole podium finish that stood second place but it was disqualified because of fuel violations. Fabulous racing at the home Grand Prix has sparked a superstition about a curse affecting domestic Formula One drivers according to spectator and media reports.
The Australian “Curse” Continues
Piastri possibly lost his prime opportunity to get a home victory because McLaren fielded a strong race car during 2023 while Formula One implements its 2026 technical changes. During Sunday’s race Piastri demonstrated better speed than his teammate Norris and started reducing the distance between them before his race ended.
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The team instruction which confirmed drivers had full freedom to race was put on hold when Piastri received a team order to stay in position because of changing weather conditions. The race restriction that had been in place initially ended but Piastri crashed into a kerb then slid off track before his elimination during the notoriously difficult Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. Later in an official statement Team Principal Zak Brown stated his team ordered drivers to maintain order for road traffic clearance.
