Mario Andretti is convinced nine-podium driver is ‘definitely’ a future F1 champion

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Mario Andretti knows what it takes to win the Formula 1 drivers’ title after reaching the very top back in 1978, and has now backed one racer he is ‘a fan’ of to win it one day.

The Italian-born American enjoyed a very successful racing career during the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and even the 1990s. Four USAC Champ Car titles plus victory at the 1969 Indianapolis 500 preceded his fruitful Formula 1 career, which Andretti capped by lifting the title in 1978.

Andretti got his F1 drivers’ title racing for Team Lotus with six wins, eight pole positions and seven podiums in 1978. His career on the Grand Prix grid also included 131 race entries and 128 starts yielding 12 wins from 1968 to 1982, and included driving for Ferrari and Williams.

Mario Andretti believes McLaren driver Oscar Piastri is ‘definitely’ a future F1 champion

Andretti was also the second of just two American drivers to win a Formula 1 championship, following Phil Hill in 1961 whilst racing for Ferrari into the exclusive group. Australia is also a nation which has only seen two F1 champions so far through Jack Brabham and Alan Jones.

Brabham won the F1 championship in 1959, 1960 and 1966 while Jones followed in 1980 for Williams’ first drivers’ title. But after more than 40 years of waiting, Andretti thinks Australia has a future Formula 1 champion on the current grid thanks to McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Andretti has told GPBlog that “I’m an Oscar Piastri fan” and strongly thinks the 23-year-old is showing he has the hallmarks of an F1 champion with what the Melbourne native is offering McLaren. From his 40 Grand Prix entries so far, Piastri has won two and made nine podiums.

“He has the qualities of a champion,” Andretti declared. “It’s not that he’s hot and cold. He’s always there. It looks like he will support Lando because Lando is in a better position points-wise. But at the same time, he’s a racer. He wants to do his thing, as well.

“For the short period of time that he’s been in Formula 1, he’s showing that he’s definitely a future champion.”

Oscar Piastri is proving his F1 title credentials after winning his first two Grand Prix

Australia has seen 20 of its citizens drive in Formula 1 since its inaugural campaign started at the 1950 British Grand Prix. Drivers from Down Under have even registered 45 wins, 35 pole positions, 139 podiums, set the fastest lap 64 times but only two have won the drivers’ title.

Mark Webber was the last Australian to come close to winning the F1 drivers’ title when he raced for Red Bull in 2010. The Queanbeyan, New South Wales native went into the season finale 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix second in the table from Fernando Alonso by eight points.

But Red Bull pitting Webber early after he brushed a barrier ultimately cost him a chance at the title before teammate Sebastian Vettel secured the first of the German’s four in a row. It is now Piastri’s turn to lead Australia’s hope after Daniel Ricciardo failed to fight for a crown.

Andretti is also not alone in backing the Melbourne native as Bernie Ecclestone even tipped Piastri to win the F1 drivers’ title in the ‘next two years’ as he is ‘magic’. Their backing even comes after the 2020 Formula 3 and 2021 Formula 2 champion had his first Grand Prix win.

While team orders overshadowed his result, Piastri took his first win at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix. It was not his first win in any scenario in the pinnacle of motorsport after Piastri won the F1 Sprint at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. But it proved he is here to fight at the front.

An ambitious, late dive at Turn 1 on Charles Leclerc also saw Piastri win the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. His masterful performance on the streets of Baku was further proof that the McLaren ace is on the rise after dictating the race under constant pressure from Leclerc.