If Eddie Jordan had to bet on the F1 world champion of the 2025 season, Oscar Piastri would be his choice.
Now in his second season as an F1 driver with McLaren, Piastri has already turned heads in the paddock, becoming a two-time Grand Prix winner, scoring his first victory in Hungary before repeating in Baku, with the Australian playing a key role in the constructors’ championship race for McLaren.
Jordan made his bet alongside former Red Bull drivers, David Coulthard known as “DC” and Mark Webber, Piastri’s manager, guests on his podcast for the occasion.
“Isn’t that fantastic? Instead of complaining about the absence of new teams, let’s open the door for the emergence of real talent and the arrival of new young people in 2025. But there is one who is already there and I like it a lot, it’s Oscar.”
“What a revelation. Not long ago, I think DC and I had a little discussion about where I thought Oscar was going, well before he won a race, I think, and I still think it, that if I could bet on him for the World Championship next year, I would take a chance on him.”
“Because I’m not spending money stupidly, at least I hope not yet, but I just think he’s great. I love the guy.”
Coulthard compares Piastri’s driving style to that of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in that he is “pretty clean” in his wheel-to-wheel battles, and he asks Webber if that was a trait Piastri had always possessed even in the junior ranks.
Piastri achieved the feat of winning his Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in consecutive seasons.
"I heard Lewis was always tough but fair," replied Webber, “and I think I’m not putting Oscar in Lewis’s category yet, he obviously has to deserve it. Lewis has over 100 GP victories.”
“Oscar is only at the beginning of his journey. But ultimately, at the moment, it seems that, thanks to his junior categories, the way he races week after week, his racing damage bill is incredibly weak.”
“The respect from the other drivers he raced against in junior formulas has always been there, and he gets that respect, and he wants to get the respect, he doesn’t want people to applaud him, like we do now, he just wants to earn his stripes and make his speech on the track.”
“And that’s what he’s done so well over the last five years.”
