From the Grass Down Under to the Top of the Podium—Oscar Piastris Exhilarating Home Race Redemption at the Chinese Grand Prix!
A drivers home race is often one of the proudest moments in their career. It serves as an opportunity to show pride in their country and bring home the win for their home crowd. Last season, we enjoyed some notable (and arguably tear jerking) home race wins with Lewis Hamilton in Silverstone and Charles Leclerc in Monaco. Unfortunately, a race win was not in the cards for Mclaren driver and Australian native, Oscar Piastri.
The 2025 season kicked off with the Australian Grand Prix, one of multiple home races that Piastri had facetiously claimed as his own. However, this race, being on his actual home soil, put the Aussie in the spotlight in hopes to be the first Australian to win at home. The hometown hero qualified 2nd behind his Mclaren teammate Lando Norris.
After a delayed start due to an incident with rookie Isack Hadjar, the five lights went out and the 2025 season was under way. Lando maintained the lead, managing to keep both Oscar and Max Verstappen behind. The latter able to overtake Piastri in the opening turns. Chaos directly followed as the cars of Australian native Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz lose traction in the wet conditions and makes contact with the barriers, making 3 cars now out of the race entirely. The green flag waved 6 laps after, Piastri fought to overtake Max Verstappen for 2nd place, making use of the temporary pause in precipitation. On lap 17, Piastri manages to pass Verstappen after he goes too deep into the gravel, recovering quickly but not enough to maintain 2nd place, leaving both Mclaren cars to fight for the top spot. Lap 34 brings an incident between Fernando Alonso and the wall. This incident leads both Papaya cars to pit under the safety car, Lando first then Oscar landing them back to first and second respectively. As heavy rain loomed over Albert Park tragedy struck for Piastri as he loses traction into turn 13 trapping him in the wet grass. However, he didn’t give up, slowly inching his was backward onto the runoff road and safely back onto the track placing him at the back of the grid. The crowd roaring behind him in support. Impressively, by the end of the Grand Prix, Oscar managed to fight his way up to 9th place finishing in the points. The win going to his teammate Lando Norris. Oscar gave tearful interviews in the Media pen following the race, clearly disappointed by the result but encouraged by the race weekend ahead in China.
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix was a Sprint weekend meaning that the drivers will participate in two separate races. The weekend started with Free Practice One, the only practice that takes place during a Sprint weekend. After practice, sprint qualifying decides the starting grid for the Sprint race the following day. Lewis Hamilton brought home the first trophy for Ferrari, but Oscar was hot on his tail, hungry for the win, coming in 2nd for the sprint. Putting everything into the car, Piastri managed to put his car on pole later in the day, beating George Russels time by only hundredths of a second. As the lights go out Oscar gets a flying start fending off George Russel for the top spot. Russel and Norris battle for the 2nd place spot ultimately helping Piastri build just over a second lead on the opening lap. Oscar maintains the lead until pitting on lap 14, returning to the track in 4th. Norris and Leclerc pit from 2nd and 3rd landing Piastri back in the front row behind the Williams of Alex Albon. It doesn't take long for Oscar to pass the Williams, taking back the lead. The Aussie manages a one stop strategy and maintains a commanding lead until the closing laps of the race, taking the chequred flag and the win in China. His Mclaren teammate finishing behind, followed by George Russel to close out the podium.
“Thank you very much. The car was lovely and good move on reacting with the dig so, great team effort and that is a very satisfying weekend thank you everyone, ” Oscar stated calmly over the radio following the race. He was met by his team who excitedly congratulated him on his win afterward. During the interviews following, Piastri spoke about the Chinese Grand Prix having been another home race for him. “The one sixteenth heritage wasn't a joke, that's real” he said “They're all here for me. They're not here for Lewis; they're here for me.” Speaking about the rather large fan base that Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has grown in China over the years.
This makes 3 career Grand Prix victories for Oscar including Qatar Sprint 2023, Hungarian Grand Prix, and now the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. He and his teammate Lando Norris also brought home the World Constructors Championship in 2024 for the first time since 1998.
The next round of the 2025 season kicks off in Sazuka Japan April 3. Will McLarens dominance continue to the third round, or will other teams take the fight to the top step?