McLaren driver Oscar Piastri will be one of two Australians looking forward to kicking off the 2025 Formula 1 season at his home race.
Piastri has been joined on the grid by Jack Doohan who made his Alpine debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Australian Grand Prix has taken over from Bahrain as F1’s season opener next year which will see Albert Park return to its spot at the top of the calendar.
Piastri is a Melbourne native and racing in front of his home crowd has gone well so far, scoring points of both visits to the track in F1.
McLaren will return to Australia as one of the favourites to secure both titles next year are winning the Constructors’ Championship in 2024.
However, in an interview with 7plus during Australian’s most recent Test match against India, Piastri admitted that his home race was his favourite event, but not his favourite track to drive.
Instead, the 23-year-old admitted that the Belgian Grand Prix is his preferred track to drive, with Martin Brundle particularly impressed by Piastri at Spa in 2024.
It’s one of Formula 1’s most storied circuits, but also one of the hardest to master.
Oscar Piastri names the Belgian Grand Prix as his favourite Formula 1 track
Cricketing legend Ricky Ponting asked Piastri whether Monaco was his favourite circuit given that he lives in the principality and said: “It’s not, no.
“My favourite is in Spa, I mean Monaco’s a very cool circuit and it’s much cooler if you qualify at the front because then no one can overtake you.
“So, yeah, Spa’s my favourite and Silverstone’s a very cool track as well.
“Melbourne’s the best event, it’s not my favourite track of the year but it’s definitely the best event.”
Ponting then asked why Spa was Piastri’s favourite and he elaborated: “[It’s] just the types of corners that you have.
“So, Spa’s always really good for overtaking; the layouts really flowing, so just to drive, it’s cool.
“Silverstone, a similar kind of thing with a lot of quick corners, and in our cars, that’s where all the downforce is.
READ MORE: Which F1 drivers do well at Belgian Grand Prix with Michael Schumacher successful at Spa
“They hurt a bit more on your neck in the fast corners but they’re the most fun. So, that’s why they’re my favourite.
“Monaco’s a very different challenge not just because of the walls but the fast and flowing tracks, that’s what we all love.”
How does Oscar Piastri fare at the Belgian Grand Prix?
Spa could be rotated off the F1 calendar in the near future as Liberty Media look to expand into new markets going forward.
Their neighbours in the Netherlands will host their last race in 2026 when Zandvoort’s latest contract expires.
Piastri has raced at Spa in Formula 1, finishing second in 2023’s Sprint Race before colliding with Carlos Sainz during the opening race of the Grand Prix.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend
The Australian missed out on victory in 2024 to Lewis Hamilton after George Russell’s disqualification.
| Year | Series | Result |
| 2018 | Formula Renault Eurocup | 3rd & 9th |
| 2019 | Formula Renault Eurocup | 1st & 4th |
| 2020 | Formula 3 | 5th & 6th |
| 2023 | Formula 1 (Sprint Race) | 2nd |
| 2023 | Formula 1 | Retired |
| 2024 | Formula 1 | 2nd |
He won at Spa during his second Formula Renault season and finished in the points during both races in his championship-winning F3 campaign.
Piastri will hope he can go one better than this year in 2025 and achieve another F1 victory at his favourite track.
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