Former champion Nico Rosberg is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Formula 1 season. After the intense title battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in 2024, he expects the two to once again challenge each other fiercely next year. Moreover, there are more contenders for the championship. If McLaren starts well-prepared in 2025, we should not rule out Oscar Piastri.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Nico Rosberg defended Lando Norris; the Brit lost the title to Max Verstappen this year, but hopes to make another bid for the championship next year. “He (Norris) has a lot of raw speed,” said Rosberg. “In that respect, he is not inferior to Verstappen and is at a champion’s level. The problem, however, lies in the doubts that occasionally still haunt him. This resulted too often in minor mistakes.”
Norris versus Piastri?
“That became painfully clear in Singapore,” Rosberg recalled. “He had a twenty-second lead over the rest of the field, but made a crucial mistake twice, almost driving into the wall. That was a bit strange; he really needs to work on that.” According to Rosberg, Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, has less of a problem with this. The Australian won his first two Grands Prix this year and hopes to compete with Verstappen and Norris for the title next year.”Piastri is stronger in that area,” Rosberg stated. “He may not have the speed of Lando Norris, but he is always consistent – he simply doesn’t make mistakes.” However, the former champion believes that Norris is ‘the favorite’ for 2025. “He simply has more top speed, which we also saw again during the Abu Dhabi GP,” Rosberg concluded. “It will be very interesting to see how this will develop next season. But know that we absolutely cannot rule out Piastri for the title.”
