Australian Formula One duo Oscar Piastri and Jack Doohan reset after tough season opener
After the dust, grass and other debris settled, Oscar Piastri found positives from his near-miss at the Australian Grand Prix.
And his fellow Australian Formula One driver Jack Doohan did likewise as the pair digested disappointment from their home race.
Piastri was headed for history as the first Australian to finish on the Albert Park podium.
With 13 laps remaining, Piastri was a comfortable second behind McLaren teammate and eventual winner Lando Norris.
Then Piastri lost control in the wet, hit the gravel and ended stuck on the grass before recovering to finish ninth.
“There’s still a lot of positives to try and take out,” he said ahead of the F1 circus moving to China for this weekend’s Shanghai grand prix.
McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella reckoned Piastri was on the verge of sustained success.
“He was just a little bit unlucky,” Stella said.
“But if the car keeps performing at this level of competitiveness, he won’t have to wait long to secure big results.
“He was very lucid, very calm.
“He’s starting his season three in Formula One, but he looks like one of the most expert drivers that I’ve worked with.
“I was extremely impressed by Oscar.”
Piastri’s compatriot Doohan, whose first home grand prix ended on lap one when his car struck a wall, vowed to learn his lessons.
“It was an unfortunate end to an overall positive weekend,” the 22-year-old said.
“It was the result of a combination of factors which we will go over together as a team to learn from and ensure it does not happen again.
“It is a tough way to learn, but I have digested what happened and put it behind me to focus on what is ahead.
“We will regroup as a team and aim to come back even stronger.”
Doohan’s pledge came as Albert Park victor Norris cautioned his triumphant team from getting carried away with his victory.
“It’s just round one. We need to go and do it again next weekend and then continue from there,” Norris said.
“(There is) a long season ahead. We now need to go to China ... keep our heads down and keep pushing.”
His boss Stella concurred.
“It will take a few more races until we can better understand the true competitive order,” Stella said.
“I don’t think we’ve seen everything our competitors have to offer.
“We’ll learn more next weekend in China.”
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