McLaren boss Zak Brown has hailed Oscar Piastri's evolution 12 months on from the home-town hero's Australian Formula One Grand Prix debut.
The Melbourne-born driver is hoping to become the first Australian since F1 started racing at Albert Park to secure a podium finish.
Piastri's teammate Lando Norris went fastest in the first practice of the weekend on Friday, pipping three-time world champion Max Verstappen in a positive sign for McLaren's bid to match it with powerhouses Red Bull and Ferrari.
Piastri was 10th-quickest, one spot ahead of fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo in his first drive in Melbourne since 2022, and was seventh in P2.
Verstappen finished second again in the second practice, won by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Leclerc's teammate Carlos Sainz made a seamless return to the track after the Spaniard was forced to miss the Saudi Arabia race because of surgery for appendicitis two weeks ago.
Brown was impressed by how quickly Piastri has adjusted to life as a Formula One driver.
"Last year (in Melbourne) was also a very difficult start to the year (on the track for McLaren)," Brown said on Friday.
"In addition to the pressure of being a rookie, and coming to your first home-town race, you're also in a race car that's not that strong.
"He's got a much better race car that he's sitting in (this year), so he's definitely enjoying it and (it's) nice to see him mature.
"He's already a mature young man, but you can definitely see a year on he's got a higher level of confidence because he knows what to expect, and I think that will just drive even better performances with the helmet on."
Ten minutes were lost during the first one-hour practice session, with Alex Albon losing control of his Williams and slamming into a wall.
The Thai driver escaped without injury, but a tyre went flying from his vehicle, and there appeared to be extensive damage to the gearbox.
Albon failed to take part in P2, but Williams later announced he would take over team-mate Logan Sargeant's car for Sunday's race, since Albon was unable to sswitch to a spare car.
Albert Park has been a graveyard for Australian drivers, with Mark Webber - Piastri's mentor - and Ricciardo having never placed better than fourth at the circuit during their long careers.
Ricciardo famously finished the 2014 race second, but was stripped of his place on the podium after being disqualified.
Qualifying will take place on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's race.
Verstappen will start as a hot favourite to make it three straight wins to open his title defence, after claiming the past three championships.
