Norris and Piastri secured third and fourth place, respectively, behind Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in Melbourne. McLaren instructed Piastri to swap positions with Norris before the halfway mark, a decision Piastri accepted as fair given Norris’ superior pace on fresher tires.
Piastri expressed disappointment at missing out on a podium finish in front of his home crowd but acknowledged the fairness of the team’s decision. He pointed out Norris’ quicker pace during the race, especially after the first round of pit stops.
“At that point, I was keeping with Leclerc, and Lando was catching both of us, so I was honestly kind of hoping he’d be past me and go and get Charles,” Piastri explained.
Norris, although unable to challenge Leclerc for second place, acknowledged the missed opportunity due to being undercut in the first round of pit stops.
Both drivers reflected on McLaren’s strong performance over the weekend. Piastri highlighted his errors during the race, including a brief off-track excursion, while Norris praised the team’s solid result despite challenges.
“I think for me it’s been a strong weekend. A couple of mistakes when it mattered which is a bit frustrating but today’s been a solid result,” Piastri remarked. Despite the missed podium, both drivers expressed optimism for the future and highlighted the positive aspects of McLaren’s performance.