In a startling assertion, Guenther Steiner, the erstwhile principal of the Haas F1 team, has backed Australian driver Oscar Piastri as a potential challenger for the coveted 2025 Formula 1 championship title. As Piastri marches into his third F1 season, Steiner’s confidence in him stems from the impressive performance that the young racer has showcased in his initial two years on the circuit.
Piastri’s meteoric rise in the F1 circuit is a testament to his skills behind the wheel. After making a commendable debut, Piastri clinched his first F1 victory in 2024 and secured a laudable fourth position in the standings. Steiner, mapping Piastri’s progress, asserted, “I believe he is now equipped with the right car and this could very well be his year.”
With a career trajectory that’s only been ascending, Piastri has been a revelation since he burst onto the scene. Steiner acknowledged this rapid growth, remarking, “He over-delivered as a rookie in 2023 and demonstrated significant improvement in ’24.”
However, the internal rivalry at McLaren, where Piastri is pitted against team-mate Lando Norris, adds an intriguing subplot to this narrative. Despite Piastri’s successes, Norris has consistently outpaced him, finishing 82 points ahead in the previous season. Nevertheless, Steiner is of the view that the talent gap between the two racers is negligible. He stated, “Oscar and Lando are neck and neck in terms of their abilities. As the season unfolds, the team will likely back one of them for the driver’s championship.”
The man at the centre of this discussion, Piastri, exudes optimism about his prospects in the coming season. He expressed his readiness to vie for the championship, saying, “I believe 2025 will be my year. It’s definitely a fresh start, and I’m prepared to compete for the title.”
With McLaren demonstrating promising pace, the focus now shifts to the team’s capability to provide Piastri with a car that can potentially fuel his quest for the championship. As the anticipation builds, the F1 world waits with bated breath to see if Piastri can indeed make a bid for the title in the upcoming season.
