Oscar Piastri has cautioned against high expectations for a breakthrough win at his home Australian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver stated that the team is not the dominant force it was 12 months ago.
Last season, McLaren secured seven wins and Piastri finished third in the drivers' championship, fueling significant buzz for his potential to be the first home winner since 1985. However, Piastri indicated uncertainty about his chances this year, acknowledging the team is facing Formula One's major technical overhaul.
"Based off testing, we seem like we’re in the mix at the front," Piastri said. "I certainly wouldn't be saying that we're favourite to be winning. The picture doesn't look quite as positive for us at the moment as it did 12 months ago.
"We're in the mix, but we need to find a bit more."
Piastri dismissed any added pressure to perform at his home race, focusing instead on the team's current challenges and recent technical changes. He also addressed past team dynamics, noting that any internal issues from the previous season have been resolved.
"We're not going to be swapping each other around for no reason (when racing)," he stated. "Again, if there's any issues or tense moments that arise, then we'll deal with it as a team."