F1 pundit spots ‘really impressive’ Australian GP race pace from top-five driver

Follow us on Google Discover

One driver produced some ‘really impressive’ long-run pace under the radar ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc topped the second practice session on Friday ahead of title favourite Max Verstappen.

But speaking during Sky’s coverage, Chandhok picked out a driver further down the field for praise in the closing stages of FP2.

Carlos Sainz, returning from illness after Oliver Bearman’s fine stand-in showing in Saudi Arabia, was third.

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were an impressive fourth and fifth for Aston Martin ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.

Home favourite Oscar Piastri out-paced the Red Bull of Sergio Perez before Lando Norris and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top 10.

Oscar Piastri impresses Karun Chandhok

Chandhok was combing through the times late in the session and Piastri jumped out.

While McLaren may not be the quickest over a single lap, their prospects on Sunday look strong.

Piastri was able to hook up numerous laps in the high 1:22 range, which stacked up well against peers.

Chandhok said: “Just keeping an eye on some of these times here, Oscar Piastri is on a really impressive race run.

“He’s done several laps now at 22.7, 22.8. That’s a very competitive time.”

Piastri carries Australian hopes ahead of Daniel Ricciardo

Piastri, who’s fifth in the standings at present, will be hoping to announce himself as a future F1 world champion in front of his home crowd this weekend.

Last year, he scored his first-ever points at Albert Park as he climbed to eighth place in a chaotic finish.

But he’s grown considerably as a driver since then, taking two podiums and winning the Sprint Race at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Piastri says his life and career changed after he finished fourth at Silverstone in the summer.

Now, compatriot Alan Jones believes he can follow in his footsteps by winning a world championship.

And what’s more, world champions Red Bull are targeting him in the event that Max Verstappen leaves.

Jones reckons he’s capable of finishing on the podium in Melbourne, but he may need some good fortune to achieve that outcome.

Meanwhile, RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, the more experienced Australian on the grid, enters the weekend looking to respond to his critics.

Chandhok thinks he hasn’t been doing ‘enough’ this season, and there’s a growing sense among observrs that the former Red Bull driver is ‘over the hill’.

Ricciardo was 12th fastest in second practice, just over three tenths slower than teammate Yuki Tsunoda.