Aussie Curse strikes again as Oscar Piastri spins out amid Melbourne rain bomb

Headshot of Jake Santa Maria
Jake Santa Maria
The Nightly
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 16: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 and Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 16, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 16: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 and Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 16, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Oscar Pisatri has spun out of contention in Melbourne as the curse of the home Grand Prix strikes again!

Lando Norris and Piastri were one and two for McLaren as Piastri looked set to become the first Australian driver to stand on the podium in Albert Park.

But heading into the final 10 laps heavy rain came across the track as Piastri lost it heading into the final two corners and spun out onto the grass.

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While he was able to recover he rejoined the race a lap down with any hopes of podium long vanished.

He eventually came home in ninth overtaking Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages to salvage something from an otherwise disastrous Sunday.

His teammate Lando Norris held off a late charge from Max Verstappen to claim the first win of the season with Mercedes’ George Russell completing the podium.

Only 14 of the 20 drivers crossed the line.

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