Oscar Piastri, Daniel Ricciardo affirm contrasting emotions ahead of F1 Australia race

The Australian Grand Prix has long disappointed drivers in their home race throughout its 39-year history.

No Australian driver has finished in the top three at their home event, although Daniel Ricciardo finished second in 2014 before being disqualified.

The nation has two drivers on the current grid: Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri, who want to deliver a superb result in front of their home crowd at Albert Park.

Ricciardo sat on the sidelines a year ago as Red Bull's reserve driver. By contrast, his Melbourne-born compatriot Piastri delivered his first F1 points in eighth place for McLaren, capitalizing on a chaotic race.

This time, Piastri arrives with the extra expectation of a more competitive car without the safety net of being a rookie.

He arrives in Australia after a solid fourth place in Saudi Arabia, where he beat his more experienced teammate Lando Norris.

The Woking-based outfit took a sizeable step forward midway through last season, enabling Piastri to win two podiums in Japan and Qatar.

Piastri has reservations ahead of his home event and concedes McLaren could have to settle for a duel with Mercedes rather than the pace-setting Red Bull.

The 22-year-old said, “I think being realistic, yes, being in the fight for the third-quickest team, is probably where we’re at. I think we were a step closer to being close to Ferrari, at least anyway in Saudi, but we’re still … We don’t quite have enough at the moment. So I think probably the fight is with Mercedes at the moment for us."

As Piastri heads into his home event, searching for his third consecutive points finish of the season, Red Bull driver Ricciardo's situation is quite different.

The 34-year-old has yet to score a point in 2024; he was beaten by teammate Yuki Tsunoda in Saudi Arabia.

The Japanese driver out-qualified and out-raced Ricciardo, who has taken criticism from Red Bull motorsport advisor director Helmut Marko.

The Austrian criticized his driver's speed over a single lap: "There is a lot at stake this season for both Yuki and Daniel. Yuki's qualifying was very good, and Ricciardo will have to come up with something soon."

The Red Bull driver's lackluster start to the season and Sergio Perez's improved performances have made a return to Red Bull more difficult.

The Australian Grand Prix could provide the perfect opportunity for Piastri to build on a great start to the season. For Ricciardo, his home event presents the chance to redeem himself after a difficult start to the year.