World all saying the same thing about Oscar Piastri

Oscar Piastri is the talk of the Formula 1 world and there is one thing everybody has noticed about the Australian driver.

Just about the only subject a sour Max Verstappen was willing to speak freely about after the controversial Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the man who has suddenly become his biggest world championship rival.

That man is Oscar Piastri — and the Formula 1 world appears to be saying the same thing about the Australian.

The reigning champ was curt and dismissive when fielding questions from reporters and TV presenters in Jeddah after he was slapped with a five-second penalty for his Turn 1 incident with Piastri.

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Red Bull boss Christian Horner went to extraordinary lengths to show his frustration about the penalty handed down when he released photos to reporters in his post-race media briefing, arguing Piastri did not have right of way to force his star driver wide at the opening turn.

Race winner Oscar Piastri with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images.

Verstappen, however, held his tongue when asked about the incident, citing fear of punishment from the FIA if he openly criticised motorsport’s global body.

Just about the only thing he wanted to talk about was Piastri, who now leads the world championship after back-to-back grands prix wins.

“I think I’ve said it before, people forget a little bit – last year was his (Oscar Piastri’s) second year. Now he’s in his third year, and he’s very solid,” he said.

“He’s very calm in his approach, and I like that. It shows on track. He delivers when he has to, barely makes mistakes – and that’s what you need when you want to fight for a championship.”

“And I think with Mark by his side, he’s helping him a lot,” Verstappen continued.”

“It’s great. People learn from their own careers – that’s what I had with my dad [Jos Verstappen], and Mark [Webber] is advising Oscar.”

“At the end of the day, Oscar is using his talent, and that’s great to see.”

F1 guru Martin Brundle was one of many saying Verstappen has met his match in the mild-mannered Victorian, essentially telling the Dutchman to watch his back.

“You’ll not find many people in and around F1 who think Max is anything other than the best driver on the grid right now,” Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports column.

“But Oscar Piastri at McLaren is learning fast, and despite being 163 race starts behind Verstappen and 82 F1 races behind Norris experience-wise, he’s now won 10 per cent of his 51 race starts and leads the world championship. And he’ll only get better.”

Spanish newspaper El Pais also said Verstappen has “met his match” in Piastri.

Piastri showed balls of steel to hold his nerve as he went into Turn 1 against the best driver on the planet, who has a reputation as a driver who doesn’t give an inch in wheel-to-wheel racing.

This was noted by Fox Sports’ Michael Lamonato, who wrote: “Oscar Piastri just had his first duel for victory with Max Verstappen, and Verstappen came off second best.

Christian Horner shows photos to reporters. Photo: X and Chris Medland.

“They were always likely to come to blows starting alongside each other on the front row at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Both knew it was crucial to claim the apex and the lead to win the race.

“But Piastri got the better start, held his nerve on the kerb and came out on to, even if Verstappen attempted to argue the point by cutting the chicane.

“The flashpoint was brief but important for Piastri. The Australian is a clear title protagonist, and Verstappen is a perpetual frontrunner.

“Lando Norris took too long last year to keep his elbows out and stand his ground in his battles with the uncompromising Dutchman.

“Piastri laid down a small but important marker that he won’t be pushed around in pursuit of the title — a title he now leads.

While Verstappen has been somewhat gracious, not many others in the Red Bulls garage have.

Horner pulled everything out to try to convince the stewards they got it wrong with Verstappen’s penalty.

“I don’t know where Max was supposed to go at that first corner,” Horner told Sky Sports.

“We’ve lost the race by 2.6 seconds, so it’s tough.”

The drama will resume at the Miami Grand Prix on May 5 (AEST).

Originally published as World all saying the same thing about Oscar Piastri