Charles Leclerc names who he thinks will win 2025 F1 title between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris

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Charles Leclerc has named the McLaren driver he thinks will win the 2025 Formula 1 world championship as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris get ready to battle it out in the final six rounds of the season.

The Australian driver arrives in Austin with a 22-point lead over his McLaren counterpart. After a string of undesirable results, Piastri will be hoping to claim his eighth win of the season to re-extend his championship lead.

Norris will also be hoping to do the same in order to eat further into his deficit to the 24-year-old. The Woking-based outfit haven’t had a driver on the top step of the podium since the Dutch Grand Prix in August.

Max Verstappen is circling the McLaren duo in third place, and after hitting a purple patch since the beginning of the race weekend in Monza, he still has half a chance of securing a fifth world championship.

However, speaking to Sky Sport Italia in the paddock of the United States Grand Prix, Leclerc thinks one of the McLaren drivers will end up reigning victorious, revealing the name he believes will be etched onto the drivers’ championship for 2025.

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Charles Leclerc names the McLaren driver he thinks will take the drivers’ title back to Woking

After being presented with a cake in celebration of his 28th birthday on Thursday, Leclerc was initially asked about his expectations for the fourth Sprint weekend of the season.

Asked if it could be the weekend where Ferrari can turn their recent woes around, the Monegasque replied: “I really hope so, the sprint weekend is always an opportunity.

“However, with opportunities also come risks, in the sense that if you start off on the wrong foot, it can be an uphill weekend afterwards, but I am confident because we have always had quite good sprint weekends.

“The team is very good at preparing the car and getting it on track, right where the car’s window is more or less right.”

The Ferrari driver was then asked for his verdict on the driver who will take the title home with them once the final chequered flag falls in Abu Dhabi.

Leclerc answered: “Oscar has the advantage of points, and therefore, I think that Oscar, given his very solid season, has the advantage now.

“But never underestimate Lando, who is very good and very fast; however, for now, the advantage perhaps lies with him.”

After a few moments of deliberation, the 28-year-old said: “I think Oscar.”

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Charles Leclerc is a lot more confident in Oscar Piastri after his previous verdict at the Hungarian Grand Prix

The eight-time Grand Prix winner previously gave his verdict regarding the victor of the hotly contested championship battle between Norris and Piastri ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix in August.

Following the Australian’s win at Spa the week prior, he held a 16-point lead over his teammate, and looked ice cool to continue leading the standings for the foreseeable.

Leclerc felt like Piastri held a clear ‘advantage’ over Norris, but warned the 24-year-old about the British driver’s talents.

With five race weekends passing since his comments, Leclerc seems to be a lot more confident in the abilities of his championship-leading rival, despite the mistakes Piastri has made in recent races.

As Verstappen and George Russell have both taken wins in the period between now and Piastri’s last victory, Leclerc could throw some further spanners into the works if he can replicate his race-winning feat at last year’s edition of the United States Grand Prix.