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McLaren CEO Zak Brown was quick to praise Oscar Piastri on the team radio as he crossed the finish line at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite missing out on winning the drivers’ championship.
Nico Rosberg wasn’t a big fan of Brown’s message to Piastri, but it highlighted something important about the way McLaren have conducted themselves this season.
Much has been made of McLaren prioritising fairness between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri throughout 2025, even if it brought Max Verstappen into the championship equation.
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When Piastri was 34 points clear of Norris after winning in Zandvoort, he may have wished for McLaren to back him, although the 104-point lead he had over Verstappen meant there was no reason to step in.
Piastri’s camp wasn’t happy with the treatment he received, but his struggles during the final quarter of the season were ultimately the reason that he didn’t clinch the championship.
Damon Hill and Martin Brundle still believe Piastri is a future world champion, and journalists Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson have now shared what staff within McLaren keep saying about the 24-year-old.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend
McLaren staff think Oscar Piastri has a higher ceiling than Lando Norris
Saunders was speaking about Piastri on the Unlapped Podcast and explained: “I don’t buy this idea that there’s been a favourite in one way massively.
“I think he’s come off worse, maybe in the 50-50s. But I think he handled that pretty well, Piastri. You know, and he was very self-reflective.”
Edmondson replied: “I think the one thing which we hear consistently about Oscar from the team is that he is incredibly intelligent and incredibly good at taking on lessons from the realities of Formula 1, from the issues that face him during a race.
“And he’s one of those guys who, it’s very rare that he makes the same mistake twice.
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“And so I feel like Oscar Piastri is absolutely the champion of the future, given the right situation.
“I do actually wonder if the car is good again, whether he’s got perhaps more ceiling to fill and perhaps even a higher ceiling than Norris.”
Saunders continued: “Brown was asked about how they can solve Oscar through a moment like that. And he said Oscar Piastri will be a world champion with McLaren. I know it.
“I think in Zak Brown’s head, he wants there to be a situation next year where the two of them are going up against each other again, whether people will believe that or not.
“I mean, I guess next year will prove how close that is to be. But I do think Piastri can win a championship, and we’ve heard it a lot from people at McLaren. The ceiling does seem to be higher with him. At least that’s what people seem to think.”
READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration
Lando Norris already knows how good Oscar Piastri can be at McLaren
Piastri improved massively over the previous winter break, making a real effort to nail his performances in qualifying, where he was typically a step behind Norris.
If he can make the same improvement going into 2026, then all that will stand between the Australian driver and being a championship contender is how competitive McLaren’s car is.
Norris was incredibly complimentary of Piastri after the race in Abu Dhabi, and was in no doubt that his teammate could be a challenger going forward.
The issue McLaren have is that most of the grid are also well aware of Piastri’s potential.
Ralf Schumacher thinks Aston Martin are eyeing Piastri, while he’s previously also been linked with Ferrari and Red Bull.
McLaren won’t want to let such a talented driver go, especially if many people within the team think he has the potential to go beyond Norris one day.
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