He announced it from last December. During the winter, at the end of a 2024 season where he had finished fourth in the championship, at the right distance from his teammate Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri had already identified his main weakness against his garage neighbor at McLaren. “Compared to the objectives I gave myself at the start of the season, I think I did a good job. There was one or two races this season when it was not as good as I would have hoped, but I think that the reason for this is the qualifications, Had he then recognized, he who had been beaten 20 to 4 in the exercise by Lando Norris. I think that by setting the sights and by calling myself in the right place, I would make great progress. »»
Four months after its statements, the sights have apparently been settled, well as it should be. After four rounds, Oscar Piastri already has two pole positions – his first two in Formula 1 – and as many victories. In direct confrontation against Lando Norris, there is for the moment equality between the two McLaren pilots, each having beat their teammate twice. We are far from the 4-0 inflicted by the British in 2024 on the four circuits where the discipline has already visited this season (Australia, China, Japan and Bahrain).
Piastri Best than Norris in qualification
And the figures show a good progression of Oscar Piastri in the exercise of qualifications. In 2024, out of the four meetings mentioned above, the average difference between the two team members was 0 ″ 176 in favor of Lando Norris. In 2025, it was 0 ″ 116… in favor of Oscar Piastri, a progression of about three tenths for the Australian compared to his teammate. Three tenths that make all the difference on the grid: indeed, the average position of Oscar Piastri on the grid is the 1.75th place. In 2024, he started on average 6th place on these four circuits.
Above all, beyond the figures, it is the way in which Oscar Piastri competes in the impressive qualifications. The Australian seems assured, applied, concentrated in each of his fast towers and commits few errors, while his teammate Lando Norris, less comfortable with his mount, is guilty of some faults which cost him several places on the grid. And with piloting full of composure and maturity in the race, the 24-year-old pilot manages to keep the advantage of his pole position to the checkerboard, with a conversion rate of 100% at present.
-Webber still sees a margin of progression
A progression that the compatriot and agent of Oscar Piastri, Mark Webber. In the Podcast F1 Nation recorded after the success of his protégé in Bahrain, the Australian rented the performance of the McLaren driver and recognized that the two victories obtained so far in 2025 have been on difficult circuits. And when they are asked if they see, he and Oscar Piastri, an progression in the field of qualifications, the ex-pilot at the 215 Grands Prix responds in the affirmative.
” Yes. I think it is, as a Formula 1 driver, an important element of your profession, underlines Mark Webber. This is something that does not escape him: during your career, when you are facing max [Verstappen]Charles [Leclerc]Lando [Norris] you lewis [Hamilton]these guys are serious adversaries on a tour. We must put it all together and we know how delicate it is to tame these cars and these tires on Saturday, therefore thanks to his intelligence and his understanding of what he must improve, yes [il a progressé]. But as I tell him, it is the day we retire that we have the most experience, so you have to continue to learn. »»
Despite the progress displayed on this start of the season in qualifying, Oscar Piastri will have to confirm this dynamic and this progression on the next circuits. Last year, from the European tour and until the end of the season, the Australian had been widely beaten in the exercise by Lando Norris (15-3 in favor of the Briton from Imola). However, if he manages to maintain the pace, he will obviously be a serious pretender to the world title, he who is only three points behind his teammate in the championship after four rounds.
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