Was 2025 Oscar Piastri’s best chance at an F1 title or a prelude to future glory?
Oscar Piastri let slip a big lead in this year’s F1 title race but has vowed to learn some lessons for next season.
9 Dec 2025
Jack Snape
Yahoo! Sport

Tumbling from the Formula One precipice, ultimately Oscar Piastri was not the first Australian in 40 years to be crowned world champion. The man from Melbourne finished a narrow third in the driver standings this year behind his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and four-time champion Max Verstappen. Now, he is back to square one.
Midway through the season Piastri lead Norris by a comfortable 34 points and Verstappen by a chasm. But a run of six rounds without a podium left him on the outside looking in, and by the end at Abu Dhabi he finished 13 points behind his teammate.

The slender margin makes it tempting to find where those points might have been lost. McLaren’s order to switch positions in Monza cost the Australian six points in the battle with his teammate. The decision not to pit Piastri in Qatar during a safety car? Probably even more. Across a long season however, the Australian was responsible for his spin in Melbourne, and his accident in Azerbaijan. McLaren chief executive Zak Brown may be hard to like, but he is also hard to blame. On one hand, that means Piastri might not get a better chance to win a championship. He fumbled the title from the cockpit of the fastest car, with a 34-point lead on his nearest rival in the second half of a season.

Verstappen, racing for a new-look Red Bull team, now without long-time advisor Helmut Marko, will lead a field sure to improve. On the other, McLaren with all their resources and technical wherewithal are unlikely to become terrible overnight. Piastri is still one of Formula One’s younger drivers, and will be well-placed to adapt to the modified cars. In the time since Norris has been at McLaren, Piastri has driven for Alpine and in other classes, winning F3 and F2 championships.

‘Piastri’s best chance at F1 title or a prelude to future glory’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/hel...iver-decision/


Oscar Piastri vows F1 title hasn’t made Lando Norris ‘Superman’
8 Dec 2025
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Oscar Piastri has denied that the situation at McLaren could change with Lando Norris’ title win in Formula 1, quipping that his team-mate hasn’t “become Superman”.

Asked if he suspects the dynamic at McLaren could change, Piastri told media including Motorsport Week: “No, I don’t think so. I don’t think that will change anything. “For me, he’s obviously had a great season this year and a deserving champion, but he’s still Lando Norris. It’s not like he’s become Superman.”

“So, I don’t think things will change with that. I’m expecting full fairness from the team and equality going forward. I don’t have any concerns that that will change at all. Clearly, Lando’s had a very strong season this year, and ultimately did a better job.”

‘Lando Norris hasn’t become Superman’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...rris-superman/


McLaren boss cuts in on Piastri's engineer team radio after Norris title win
9 Dec 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

A moment involving McLaren CEO Zak Brown interrupting Oscar Piastri’s post-race radio has drawn attention following Lando Norris’ title triumph. The McLaren team boss appeared to cut into the exchange between Piastri and his race engineer, Tom Stallard, moments after the chequered flag at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The British engineer, who was speaking to the 24-year-old upon the chequered flag at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, witnessed his conversation cut short as Brown jumped in with his own celebration.
Great job, Oscar. Obviously, that means Lando is world champion,” Stallard said.
“Oscar, what a season. What a season. You're a star, seven wins. We love you. We'll do it again next year. Thank you, Oscar, for everything you've done. What a year,” Brown interjected.

Stallard subsequently resumed his message, adding: “Well done to you, Oscar, as well. I mean, to be honest, where we were last year, the season you put together is pretty impressive. So when we go away, there are a few wounds to lick.”
However, Brown would again cut into their conversation to add: “Oscar, very proud of you. Awesome. What a team player. We're going to get it next year. See you at the podium.”

‘McLaren boss cuts in’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/brown...ter-norris-win


Furious fans unleash over two words Oscar Piastri's team boss used after the Aussie's F1 championship dream was shattered
8 Dec 2025
SHAYNE BUGDEN, SPORTS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA
MailOnline

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been blasted by fans and a former F1 world champion for his message to Oscar Piastri just after the Aussie's title dream was crushed at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, two words in his message set fans off, and former champion Nico Rosberg accused the American of lacking empathy. 'What a season! What a season!' Brown began as Oscar was driving back to the pits after the final lap. 'You're a star. Seven wins. We love you. We'll do it again next year. Thank you Oscar for everything you've done. What a year. Oscar, very proud of you. Awesome. What a team player.'

The choice of the words 'team player' set off fans who have accused the team of breaking their promise to let Piastri and Norris race freely and without favouritism under McLaren's 'papaya rules'.
'Shafting Oscar all the way to the end,' one wrote on X.
'Stepping over his radio guy and sounding so full of s**t,' another said.
'I do not understand how Zak Brown and [team principal] Andrea Stella will be able to look Oscar in the eyes next season. Seriously disgraceful,' a third commented.
'1 grand slam, 6 poles, 7 wins, 13 podiums. all reduced down to “what a team player”. zak brown i wish you nothing but the worst,' another angry fan added.

Rosberg reacted to Brown's words by accusing him of being callous. 'That's his [Piastri's] most horrible moment in his racing career,' the 2016 drivers' champion said in commentary. Maybe Zak could have had a little more empathy there, rather than celebrating. He could have said "next year will be your year" but it's difficult for Zak because he's so ecstatic at the same time.'

‘Furious fans unleash’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...x-McLaren.html


Martin Brundle and Nico Rosberg admit they got one thing wrong about Oscar Piastri in 2025
7 Dec 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Martin Brundle admits he ‘misread’ Oscar Piastri’s calmness during the 2025 F1 season. Brundle was previewing the race in Abu Dhabi for Sky Sports F1 (7/12 11:28 am), and while discussing Piastri, he said: “What we have to remember is he has 82 races less experience than Lando Norris. That’s three and a half seasons. Imagine how much Lando’s improved in the last three and a half seasons”.

“So, he is a future world champion. I have no doubt about that, Oscar Piastri. He’s had a couple of brutal penalties this year that have cost him dearly, at Silverstone, and of course, in Brazil as well. But I think we might misread him a little bit as well. I thought when he sort of went on the missing list a little bit for six races, didn’t he? Threw it in the wall in Baku had lost his head a little bit, and just generally, he basically. He’s not absolutely stone cold horizontal. I think he soaks a little bit as well. We misread him.”

Rosberg added: “I mean, mentally, he is so strong. I would consider him one of the strongest out there. He’s just so level-headed. It’s the same pizza in the evening, whether he wins the race or finishes fourth with the same crowd. Lando was also saying throughout this weekend that if there was one thing he’s jealous of Oscar for, then it would be Oscar’s level-headedness, and his mental approach and being so balanced.”

‘Mentally strong’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mar...astri-in-2025/


Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Oscar Piastri will ask one ‘big question’ after Lando Norris wins 2025 title
9 Dec 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Oscar Piastri will wonder if McLaren will change after Lando Norris becomes champion. McLaren have reiterated throughout 2025 that their drivers are equal and that they keep things fair between them. However, Piastri’s camp think they have ‘come off worse’ far too often at McLaren this season.

Team orders in Monza and Singapore left a sour taste in Piastri’s mouth, and Juan Pablo Montoya thinks he will ask a ‘big question’ at McLaren in 2026. He will wonder if things will change within the team, especially now that Norris will bear the number one on his car next year. Montoya said via F1 TV: “It’s hard. I think what Oscar said, at least he finished on a higher note, like he found the pace, he found the speed, he found everything he needed.”

“The big question for him in his mind is, next year, can I beat Lando again? Is the team going to change? Is anything going to change in the team because Lando is world champion? “And not only in Oscar but everybody in his camp, people are going to be wondering, do we need to stay, do we need to go? There’s going to be a lot of questions.”

‘Big question’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jua...ns-2025-title/