Guenther Steiner, the former Haas F1 team principal, is confident that Oscar Piastri will be a serious contender for the 2025 Formula 1 world title.
The Australian driver, entering his third season in F1, has impressed in his first two years, and Steiner believes Piastri is ready to take the next step in his career.
Stellar Progression for Oscar Piastri
After a promising rookie season, Piastri took his first F1 victory in 2024 and finished an impressive fourth in the standings. Steiner pointed out the growth in Piastri’s performance, stating, “I think he has the right car now and I think this is his year.”
Reflecting on Piastri’s rapid development, he added, “Coming in as a rookie he over-delivered for a rookie in 2023 and in ’24 he followed up with some improvement.”
The Team-Mate Rivalry: Piastri vs. Norris
Despite Piastri’s success, McLaren team-mate Lando Norris has consistently been faster, finishing 82 points ahead in the standings last season. Steiner, however, believes the two drivers are close in talent. “Lando and Oscar are very close talent-wise,” he noted.
“As the season goes on, they will want one of their guys to go for the driver’s championship.”
Piastri himself is optimistic about his chances, stating that he believes 2025 will be his year to challenge for the title. “It’s definitely a clean slate [this year],” Piastri remarked, highlighting his readiness to fight for the championship.
With the team showing promising pace, all eyes are on McLaren’s ability to provide Piastri the car he needs to make a title run.