BREAKING NEWS: Max Versttapen Finally Reveals Admiration for Piastri as T…read more
Oscar Piastri takes the championship lead for the first time in his F1 career, while Max Verstappen acknowledges the McLaren driver’s growing strength.
Max Verstappen has expressed admiration for Oscar Piastri’s performance this season, highlighting the McLaren driver’s composed and consistent approach as the championship picture begins to sharpen.
Piastri, 24, now leads the F1 Drivers’ Championship with 99 points after claiming victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The Australian outpaced Verstappen in Jeddah following a first-lap clash that saw the Dutchman penalised, leaving him to finish second.
On The F1 Show Podcast, pundit Karun Chandhok tipped Piastri as the title frontrunner, though he cautioned that Verstappen remains a major contender.
“People tend to forget that last year was only his second season,” Verstappen noted. “Now in his third year, he’s showing real strength. He’s calm under pressure and very precise. That’s what it takes to compete for a title.”
Verstappen also acknowledged the role of Piastri’s manager, ex-F1 driver Mark Webber, in the Australian’s development: “Having Mark guide him is a huge benefit. He’s sharing the lessons from his own career, just like I learned from my dad. Oscar is clearly making the most of his talent.”
Despite McLaren’s strong start to 2025, Verstappen has managed to stay within striking distance. He currently sits third in the standings, just 12 points behind Piastri, with Lando Norris splitting the pair in second place.
Red Bull’s form has varied from race to race – Verstappen dominated in Japan, but the team struggled with tyre wear in Bahrain, leaving him over half a minute behind Piastri.
As the series heads to Miami for a Sprint weekend, Verstappen will look to bounce back and challenge McLaren once more.
Top 5 in Drivers’ Championship
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 99 pts
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 89 pts
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 87 pts
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 73 pts
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 47 pts
Catch up every session of the Miami GP on Sky ortetesekusoccerinfo.co.uk, with the main race on Sunday at 9pm UK time.
