Fresh off his maiden Formula 1 podium, Oscar Piastri will take plenty of momentum into this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver was brilliant last time out in Japan, qualifying second and finishing third in his best weekend to date in his rookie F1 season.

The Australian moved into the top 10 of the drivers' championship standings and has helped drive McLaren up to fifth in the constructors' championship.

The British team are now eyeing off the top four in this season's constructors' championship, currently 49 points behind Aston Martin with six grands prix and three sprint races to go.

This weekend's racing in Qatar will feature one of the remaining three sprint races this season.

Piastri, who visited the Suzuka track for the first time during the previous F1 weekend, again comes to a track he has not previously raced on.

"I spent some time last week with my engineers going over what we learned in Japan and what we can take forward to Qatar," he said.

"This is another new track for me, but of course that makes it all the more interesting."

McLaren has been one of the great improvers this season.

After starting the season near the rear of the field, the McLaren cars have powered up the grid.

They have scored 145 points from their past eight races, capped off by their most recent effort in Japan with Piastri finishing third and Lando Norris taking second.

It is an achievement team principal Andrea Stella has said needs to be acknowledged.

"Achieving a [second] and [third] in Japan was not an easy task, but it was made possible by the quality of the work of the teams'  at the factory and trackside," he said.

"We're more determined than ever to continue improving, as we work towards being consistent in fighting at the top of the field."

The sprint race will be held at the Losail International Circuit on Sunday at 4:30am AEDT, with the race being held on Monday at 3am AEDT.