Oscar Piastri ‘will surely be a champion’, tipped to challenge Verstappen

The 2024 F1 season is just around the corner and two famous names have made a big call about Aussie youngster Oscar Piastri.

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone believes Oscar Piastri has what it takes to win a Formula One world title in another endorsement of the young Aussie.

Piastri exceeded expectations in his rookie season with McLaren, continuing strong form that saw him win three titles in a stellar junior career.

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The 22-year-old finished ninth in the drivers’ championship and was particularly impressive in the second half of the season as McLaren upgraded its car throughout the year.

Piastri claimed two podium finishes and also notched up his maiden F1 victory in a Sprint Race at the Qatar Grand Prix.

It means he won a race, albeit a sprint, before teammate Lando Norris, who now jointly holds the record for the most podiums without a victory (13).

Piastri’s pace in qualifying was extremely impressive, while he has highlighted race pace and tyre management as areas he can improve on moving forward.

Ecclestone, F1’s longtime chief executive, has added his voice to the chorus of pundits and former drivers who believe Piastri can be world champion one day.

He told German publication Bild: “Young Australian Oscar Piastri, at 22 years old, impresses me the most. He will surely be a champion.”

There are high hopes for Oscar Piastri in 2024. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)

The Aussie showed he could mix it with the big boys of F1. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

Max Verstappen won 19 out of 22 races last year to wrap up his third world championship in recordbreaking fashion.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was the only non Red Bull driver to win a grand prix in 2023, and McLaren have been tipped to close the gap next season.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, brother of seven-time champion Michael, believes McLaren and Piastri could challenge Verstappen.

“McLaren could be possible (contenders),” Schumacher told the Formula For Success podcast.

“I have to say I’m a big fan of Oscar. The only thing is he seems still to be a bit weak in racing (conditions).

“I think his qualifying performance is amazing, he never makes a mistake and he’s always there. So that’s great.

“And Lando is an amazing racer, but maybe sometimes he wants a bit too much in qualifying. And he could be the one I think to challenge Max if the car (is good enough).”

Lando Norris and Piastri are one of the strongest duos in F1. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Piastri was named the FIA Rookie of the Year and is tipped for bigger and better things as his career progresses.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ end-of-season review, Martin Brundle praised Norris for an excellent second half of the season but pointed out the awkward reality that his younger teammate won a race before him.

“Oscar Piastri has really sharpened Lando Norris up,” Brundle declared.

“Now he has to get on with it a little bit because Piastri has turned up, as a rookie, delivering the high speeds through the really challenging corners, delivering some amazing results.

“Made some rookie errors as well, but I think that’s really driven both drivers on and probably just what Lando needed because I think in the second half of the season, Lando Norris has been outstanding.”

“Let’s remember that Oscar Piastri won the sprint race in Qatar in great style with Max (Verstappen) trying to catch him.”

“So it’s within touching distance and he must be mortally wounded that actually it was Piastri who saw the chequered flag first.”

The 2024 F1 season gets underway at the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 3.