'Clearly it still lives': Oscar Piastri rues mistakes after 'devastating' Australian GP crash
Updated . First published at
Oscar Piastri cut a dejected figure after his heartbreaking crash in the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix after failing to make it to the grid of his home race.
The local Formula 1 hero, driving for McLaren, was set to start in fifth on the grid after qualifying over the weekend but was instead left devastated after finding the wall at turn four due to an engine mistake.
Piastri walked off the track unscathed, but was ruled out of competing.
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"This is heartbreak for Oscar Piastri, he is out of the race," Martin Brundle said on Sky Sports, while co-commentator Bernie Collins conceded it was "devastating for McLaren and all the Aussie fans in the stands with their Piastri hats".
Oscar Piastri walks away after the crash. FOX Sports
After a lengthy delay, Piastri spoke to media in Melbourne about the horror mistake.
"I mean ... obviously disappointed. A scenario like that just shouldn't happen," Piastri told media including Wide World of Sports.
"It's obviously very disappointing it did. We had a couple of things going on. The first part I want to stress is that ... there is certainly a big element of it that was me.
"Cold tires, I have used that exit curb every lap of the weekend, but, you know, maybe I didn't have to at the same time.
"I had about 100 kilowatts extra power that I didn't expect, which is not insignificant.
"I think the difficult part to take that is everything was working normally, it's just the function of how the engines have to work with the rules.
"That's the part that's difficult to accept, it would almost be easier in some ways if we just said 'it's cold tyres' and I was optimistic.
"When you add in another factor like that, it always is even more painful."
The damaged car of Oscar Piastri is taken off the track. LAT Images
Only a half an hour before proceedings officially kicked off, Piastri rolled off the track and crashed, ruling him out of the race at Albert Park in front of a record-breaking crowd of 483,934.
When asked about the home curse, Piastri had only four words.
"Clearly it still lives."
Piastri was the hometown favourite to boost himself onto the podium and was speechless at the disappointment.
"Very disappointing. I don't really have many other words than that, but yeah, very sorry obviously for everyone that came out and wanted to support me."
"It's clearly not the way I wanted to start the year either, I can only apologise.
"I think this year, obviously the disappointment is even greater (than last year) but I think up until today, we did a lot of things well.
"We can clearly identify some things we need to change and do a better job at.
"But I think through practice and qualifying, I felt pretty comfortable, as comfortable as you can do in these cars.
"Yeah, it felt like I was building myself into it nicely, which that element is not too dissimilar to twelve months ago.
"So, I'll just try and take the learnings and come back next week."
Oscar Piastri speaks to media. Sophie Wisely
When asked about his immediate emotions after spinning in the McLaren, Piastri admitted he was "shocked and surprised" as he was backwards before he knew it.
"Before I'd even really had a chance to react, it all happened pretty quick.
"Crashing out of the race, trying to get to the race is a situation that shouldn't happen."
McLaren boss Zak Brown was confident the Aussie driver would overcome the crash, despite the devastation of missing out on his home grand prix.
"We've not seen anything on the data," he told Sky Sports.
"We'll do a post mortem after the race. For now, we have to focus on the car we have in the race. It's disappointing for Oscar in his home race, but let's see what happens.
"He'll be sore about that one for a while, but these race car drivers know how to recover quickly ... he'll be back."
Zak Brown speaks to Martin Brundle. Sky Sports
Prior to the crash itself, Piastri was reportedly heard saying over team radio that he had "no battery" according to the Sky Sports broadcast.
Piastri finished ninth at the Australian GP last year.
McLaren teammate Lando Norris was fully focused on the task at hand after the crash and sits in fifth in the race.
"A lot of things to think of ... feeling good, excited," he said.
