Oscar Piastri Acknowledges Lando Norris as Closest Rival in 2025 F1 Title Hunt
Oscar Piastri Concedes F1 Title Battle Is Between McLaren Teammates
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, the current Formula 1 championship leader, conceded on Thursday that the battle for the 2023 drivers' crown has boiled down to a two-horse race between him and his teammate, Lando Norris.
Heading into this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix—the final event before F1's traditional August break—the Australian leads Norris by 16 points in the standings. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, trails in third, a daunting 81 points adrift of Piastri. With 11 races remaining and McLaren’s current supremacy, Verstappen’s chances of mounting a comeback look increasingly far-fetched.
When asked if the championship is now essentially a showdown between McLaren teammates, Piastri replied: “I suppose so.”
Early Signs of McLaren Dominance
Earlier in the season, both Piastri and Norris, along with McLaren’s leadership, were hesitant to declare the team’s dominance over the grid. However, the 24-year-old Australian acknowledged that recent performances made this conclusion difficult to ignore.
“Every weekend now, or the last few weekends anyway, it has been Lando and I,” Piastri noted while speaking with reporters. “I expect our competition to still be strong and put up a good fight, especially at certain tracks through the rest of the year. Whether that comes from Max or Ferrari or Mercedes or someone else, we never really know. I’m not too concerned about what happens in that. I’m just trying to win each race and extend the lead.”
Piastri has delivered a stellar campaign so far, securing six victories in 13 races. Meanwhile, Norris has clinched four wins, with McLaren achieving an impressive six one-two finishes. Verstappen has managed just two wins in 2023, a stark contrast to Red Bull’s commanding form in prior seasons. The result? A commanding McLaren total of 516 points in the Constructors’ Championship, a staggering 268 points ahead of second-placed Ferrari.
Hungaroring: A Crucial Stop in the Championship
Hungary’s Hungaroring, where Piastri celebrated his maiden Formula 1 win last year, has historically been a strong circuit for McLaren.
“Hungary has been historically a good track for us as a team, certainly the two years I’ve been with the team,” Piastri shared. “I expect us to be strong again this weekend.”
Though confident in his title bid, Piastri maintained a realistic perspective on the challenges that lie ahead.
“Not every weekend has been perfect, but there’s not many weekends in my whole life that have been perfect,” he admitted. “Just trying to put together a solid, consistent year is ultimately going to be important. The pace in the last few weekends, especially Spa, I’ve been very confident in and very proud of.
I’m more than capable of continuing that for the rest of the year. I’m confident that I can do it, but it’s not going to be easy.”
Precision and Pace Key to Clinching the Title
When asked about what it takes to seal the championship as the pressure rises in the back half of the season, Piastri highlighted the importance of precision and pace.
“The way you win races at the back end of the season is the same way you do at the start—you need to be faster than everyone around you, and you need to make the least mistakes possible,” he explained. “It’s great to be consistent, but if you’re consistently being beaten as well, then that’s not a recipe for a championship.”
McLaren’s Rivalry Takes Center Stage
As the F1 paddock descends upon Hungary, it is clear that McLaren’s intra-team rivalry will dominate the race weekend storylines. With Piastri looking to extend his lead and Norris determined to close the gap, the Hungarian Grand Prix promises another thrilling chapter in what is shaping up to be a showdown for the ages.
Up Next
