Oscar Piastri believes he can win the F1 driver’s title this season
For his third season in F1, Oscar Piastri claims he can clinch the 2025 world title. During the presentation of the new McLaren MCL-39 at Silverstone, the 23-year-old driver detailed his preparation and increased confidence after a 2024 season that saw him achieve his first F1 victories.
Present at Silverstone for the first laps of the McLaren MCL39, Oscar Piastri spoke at length with Craig Slater of Sky Sports. The Australian driver, who is starting his third season in Formula 1, has a clear ambition: to win the world title in 2025.
Buoyed by a 2024 season crowned by McLaren’s constructor’s title, Piastri approaches this new year with enhanced confidence. Asked about the new features of the 2025 car, the Australian revealed: “Obviously we are going with the same regulations this year, but we have not stagnated. There are evolutions, new innovations on this car, and I think that’s what we have to do to try to stay at the top.”
The competition is shaping up to be fierce for the new season. Ferrari finished the 2024 season strong, Mercedes showed promising potential, and Red Bull remains a constant threat. Piastri is fully aware: “I think it will be a very tight year. Last year was already incredible. It was undoubtedly the most contested season since 2010, and I expect something similar this year,” he revealed.
The team makes the success.
The relationship with his teammate Lando Norris, vice world champion in 2024, will be crucial in this quest for the title. Piastri believes that respect will remain essential, even if he has to challenge Norris for the title this season. He emphasizes that their success largely depends on their ability to work effectively as a team, and that this dynamic allows for maintaining a respectful atmosphere, even when they are competing for first place.
Indeed, the two drivers have demonstrated their ability to work together, even in the most tense moments: « I think with Lando, since our first two years of collaboration, we have always aimed to secure first and second position, and then fight it out between ourselves. We are not far from being able to achieve that now. We will, of course, fight on the track, but we will make sure to both finish in first and second position if that is where we are. »
This team harmony could be decisive in the battle between the two teammates: « I will clearly approach this year with the necessary objective and preparation to try to fight for a championship, or even both. With the success we had last year, it would be foolish to aim for less. », added Piastri.
New year, new Piastri
Oscar Piastri acknowledges having made significant progress since his debut: « 12 months ago, I started the season with certain weaknesses in which I didn’t have much confidence. I corrected them over the course of last season, and now it’s about managing them every weekend. »
The Australian will also start the season with a new physical trainer: « I have a new trainer this year, so we took the time to get to know each other and adapt our working and training methods. It was quite nice to discover new approaches. Otherwise, the goal remains to improve my overall fitness, maintain my muscle strength, and properly prepare my neck. », he revealed.
The young driver now relies on his experience and the knowledge gained from past seasons to refine and optimize his training program: “I’ve been in F1 for a few years now, so I’m starting to better understand which parts of my body I need to train more and which aspects I need to work on,” he specified.
Piastri ready to take on the challenge
The Australian driver, who won his first Grand Prix in 2024 in Hungary and Azerbaijan, could become the first Australian world champion since Alan Jones in 1980. A prospect that doesn’t seem to intimidate him: « I really believe I can become world champion this year. I have confidence, even though we still have some points to work on. I’m certainly not a finished product, but I don’t think anyone really is. »
The season will start on March 16 in Melbourne, a special home race for Piastri. After having probably spent the longest stay I’ve had in Australia since I left home about ten years ago, the McLaren driver says he is ready to face the challenge ahead. In a championship that promises to be tighter than ever, his maturity and determination could make the difference.
