The Australian perspective: Australia’s F1 future is in safe hands

After an incredibly active driver transfer market, Australia still find themselves with a representative on the grid, but perhaps not one they expected. As Daniel Ricciardo agreed with McLaren to mutually part ways come the end of the season, the Woking-based squad found themselves a compatriot replacement. In steps the highly rated rookie Oscar Piastri. What is the Australian perspective on this change?

Daniel Ricciardo

Australian F1 fans will forever remember the smiling assassin Daniel Ricciardo and his glory days at Red Bull. His razor-sharp overtakes and incredible racecraft earned him the title of "Australia’s golden boy" during his 2014 and 2015 seasons. He’s a household name due to his off-track antics, larger-than-life persona and sportsmanship, making him one of the great ambassadors of the land down under.

The love well and truly does remain strong. Some are cautiously optimistic that the eight-time Grand Prix winner will find his way back onto the grid in 2023, with Red Bull potentially taking an active role in trying to field him a seat. The far more cynical, however, believe that Ricciardo may end up struggling to push his way back onto the grid, considering the poor performances in his McLaren years.

Oscar Piastri 

In Ricciardo’s place comes a compatriot by the name of Oscar Piastri. The 21-year-old will hold a racing seat at the McLaren F1 Team after a drawn-out contract dispute with his former employer, Alpine. Alongside Lando Norris, they hold (on paper) a formidable and potentially long-term pairing for the Woking squad. The descend blend of youthfulness and experience in Norris will undoubtedly pay dividends for Piastri, as the young Australian will need to rapidly come up to speed with the new generation of cars and the new behind-the-scenes structures.

An air of intrigue surrounds the youngster. While he is a Formula 2 champion and has been a key piece of the silly season in 2022, not much is really known about him as a character. He holds a much more meek personality than his predecessor in Ricciardo, but with the media-savvy McLaren team, we’ll be sure to learn more about him in the near future. A quiet anxiety also permeates, with some unsure whether he will be able to live up to the expectations of the team, or will he suffer the same difficulties as his compatriot had in the same seat.

The future

Australia’s future is seemingly in safe hands. Considering how highly contested Piastri’s signature was, as well as the auxiliary (yet still notable) role that Ricciardo holds, the nation will boast two representatives in the sport for the foreseeable future. 

This will only come as a good thing. With a growing audience and interest in F1 and a bumper contract for the Albert Park Circuit to host the Grand Prix till 2037, the land down under will remain a resolute figure in F1.