McLaren CEO Zak Brown has explained why Oscar Piastri was instructed to “hold position” when closing in on Lando Norris at the Australian Grand Prix. After getting by Max Verstappen on Lap 17, Piastri reeled Norris in with a series of fastest laps.

Wearing McLaren orange under soaking plastic ponchos, fans turned up in droves to the Formula One Australian Grand Prix on Sunday with hope of seeing Oscar Piastri end the nation's 40-year wait for a home winner.

Whilst Lando Norris secured the first win of the year, the Australian Grand Prix will be remembered for McLaren's demand for Oscar Piastri to 'hold his position' against his team-mate, contrasting with Zak Brown's message that his drivers are free to race.

McLaren secured their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998 a year ago, and the season ended with either Norris or Piastri on the top step of the podium in four of the fin

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Oscar Piastri is quietly confident he can become the first Aussie driver to win the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. He's aiming for it this weekend.

McLaren locked out the front row in Melbourne with Lando Norris taking pole position for the Australian Grand Prix while Oscar Piastri was second quickest in qualifying

Home racer Oscar Piastri put McLaren top of the timesheets in the final free practice before Australian Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday while Haas rookie Oliver Bearman spun out to trigger a second red flag in two days.

McLaren’s hometown hero Oscar Piastri led a super-competitive final practice session Saturday for Sunday's Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix with the Australian just 39 one-thousandths of a second ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.