David Coulthard predicts Oscar Piastri to make history at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix

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David Coulthard believes that McLaren driver Oscar Piastri can finally break the Australian Grand Prix curse for home drivers in Melbourne this weekend.

The Australian Grand Prix once again plays host to the start of another Formula 1 season, with more uncertainty than ever over who will be competitive and what racing will look like during a new era of the sport.

McLaren are the reigning drivers’ and constructors’ champions, although Oscar Piastri will be desperate to put the disappointment of how last season ended behind him.

There’s no better place to do that than his home race, and David Coulthard has high hopes for the 24-year-old ahead of Sunday’s race.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

David Coulthard predicts Oscar Piastri to win the 2026 Australian Grand Prix

Previewing the race on the Up To Speed Podcast, Coulthard, Naomi Schiff and Will Buxton made their predictions for who will come out on top at Albert Park this weekend.

Piastri has admitted he’s moving past a ‘painful’ end to 2025, and a win in his home city would be the perfect way to remedy that.

Asked to predict Sunday’s race, Schiff said: “I was going to do a podium prediction because I feel like a victory is a bit too easy.

“I’m going to align with Jolie on the top step of the podium as George Russell. I will then go for Oscar Piastri because it is his home race.

“I mean, he grew up a stone’s throw away from the circuit. So we’re going to go Oscar second and then third on your podium, Charles Leclerc.”

What do you expect from Oscar Piastri in the 2026 F1 season?

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Coulthard replied: “Well, look, I’m going straight for the home hero. I’m going Oscar Piastri for the win.

“Australia has not had that for a long time, if ever. So Mark Webber came up short with it. Daniel Ricciardo came up short with it. It’s long overdue.”

Buxton then made a rather outlandish claim and said: “I’m going to go with a Lewis Hamilton win. I think the Ferrari looks really good.

“And maybe Mercedes won’t want people to think that they’ve really got an engine advantage, so they’ll give Ferrari the season opener knowing that they’re going to batter them for the rest of the year.

“And Cadillac points on debut!”

READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Why Oscar Piastri would be making history if he won the 2026 Australian Grand Prix

Piastri is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Australia’s only two previous world champions, Jack Brabham and Alan Jones, this year.

Brabham never had the privilege of taking part in an official Australian Grand Prix during his F1 career, with the event only making its debut on the calendar in 1985, and Jones’ two races in Adelaide both finished with DNFs.

Fans weren’t happy with McLaren last year when they didn’t let Piastri fight Norris in treacherous conditions, and the 24-year-old eventually slipped off the track, only recovering to P9.

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Both Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber have stood on the podium in Australia, but neither earned a top-three finish as a result.

Webber’s Minardi debut saw him record a remarkable fifth-place finish, and he and team principal Paul Stoddart ended up celebrating in front of the home crowd as a result.

Ricciardo thought he finished second in 2014 to finally break the Australian curse, only to be disqualified after enjoying the podium celebrations for breaching the maximum fuel limit.

Australian drivers haven’t had much luck in their home country yet, but Coulthard is backing Piastri to make history and end that difficult streak.