David Croft tells Oscar Piastri fans he will win F1 title in next two years, ‘be patient boys’

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David Croft is backing Oscar Piastri to be a Formula 1 world champion by the 2027 season.

The McLaren driver came within touching distance of winning the title in 2025, having led the standings for 15 race weekends. However, Piastri came up short by 13 points, finishing third behind teammate Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

Now entering his fourth season in F1, the Aussie has already shown his credentials as a top driver, and Croft believes that he is world champion material.

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Several issues prevented the 24-year-old from achieving the ultimate goal in 2025. Piastri struggled on low-grip tracks towards the end of the season, and McLaren’s controversial papaya rules, notably in Monza and Singapore, did not help matters.

But the Melbourne-born driver did not help himself either, as Piastri’s obsession with being a champion derailed him at the end of 2025. He will now be determined to right the wrongs of last year.

David Croft backs Oscar Piastri to be F1 world champion by 2027

Speaking via FOX Motorsport, F1 commentator Croft discussed Piastri’s collapse in 2025 and his title chances moving forward.

“Things didn’t work out. There were those races where he struggled on a low-grip track,” he said, talking about last year.

“Oscar Piastri did what is known in the trade as a freemantle docker last year. He was looking so, so good for much of the season and when it came to crunch time, he just fell a little bit short. This year, let’s hope he goes one better.

What do you expect from Oscar Piastri in the 2026 F1 season?

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Asked if he meant that statement, Croft replied: “No, I do mean that. I’ve got a lot of time for Oscar. I think he’s a super driver. He’s a wonderful human being.

“I think Oscar Piastri is a world champion in the making. I think he will win a world title. It might be this year, but there’s six drivers for me that have got a chance of winning this year.

“And if he doesn’t do it this year, he’ll do it the year after. It will come. Be patient boys.”

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Oscar Piastri has to get over 2025 loss to win 2026 title

The 2026 F1 regulations present a challenge for all drivers, as they need to adapt to the new cars and how to manage them.

But Anthony Davidson thinks the new cars are perfect for Piastri, as teammate Norris claimed they feel more like F2. He pointed out how dominant the Aussie was in the category and how that could play into his hands.

However, the most critical thing for Piastri this season is not to dwell on the past. He cannot afford to let last season’s loss get him down as F1 wipes the slate clean in 2026.

Piastri found the end of 2025 ‘painful’ and he is looking to move on. But his statements do highlight that it did have a huge effect on him, and it is something that he has to shake.