McLaren looked to be on course for the one-two finish at the F1 2025 opener for much of the race at Albert Park, with the only question whether it would be Piastri or Lando Norris

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has explained why Oscar Piastri was instructed to “hold position” when closing in on Lando Norris at the Australian Grand Prix. After getting by Max Verstappen on Lap 17, Piastri reeled Norris in with a series of fastest laps.

After helping McLaren to a constructor's championship in 2024, Oscar Piastri was rewarded with a multi-year contract worth nearly $26 million per year, according to Racing News 365.

McLaren secured their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998 a year ago, and the season ended with either Norris or Piastri on the top step of the podium in four of the fin

Oscar Piastri is quietly confident he can become the first Aussie driver to win the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. He's aiming for it this weekend.

However, when rain arrived at the track on lap 44, both McLaren cars ran wide in the approach to the penultimate corner. Norris gathered it up and retained the lead, but Piastri was forced to take a wider angle into the corner after going deeper into the run-off.

McLaren believe Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri can co-exist without problems as the team goes into the new season as favourites.