As the new Formula 1 season approaches, Oscar Piastri is not shy about his ambitions. After winning two Grand Prix last year, he is hungry for more in 2025. The McLaren driver believes he can make a serious bid for the world title in the upcoming season. Playing second fiddle to Lando Norris is not something he takes lightly.
On Thursday, McLaren shared the first images of the MCL39, the new car for the upcoming season. During a filming day at Silverstone, the car, adorned with a special camouflage color scheme, was already tested by drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The latter stated afterwards that he has high ambitions for the new season. Where last year he often played a supporting role for his teammate, he wants to compete for the gold himself in 2025.
Starting Afresh
“Last year, there were situations where I helped Lando Norris, but he also helped me,” Piastri said. “But now we’re starting afresh. I genuinely believe I can become world champion this year,” he declared confidently. “Last season, I started with a few weaknesses – I didn’t have much confidence. I worked on that throughout the year, and now I just need to be on point every weekend.” The 22-year-old Australian had an impressive season in 2024, securing two victories and finishing fourth in the standings. As he enters his third season in Formula 1, he feels better prepared to compete for the top prizes.
“The car isn’t perfect yet, but that’s the case for all teams,” he assured. “But if we improve the right things, I definitely have the resources to win a title.” Although Piastri has shown that he can compete with the absolute top, he also realizes there’s still work to be done. “There were certainly a few weekends where I wasn’t as strong as I wanted to be,” he admitted. “It’s about how you best adapt to those difficult moments. We’ve discussed in detail how we can better prepare and how we can work more specifically on my driving style.”
