Franz Tost, a seasoned former System 1 staff supervisor and boss, has predicted that McLaren’s Oscar Piastri will preserve his newly acquired championship result in declare the 2025 drivers’ title.
Franz Tost, a seasoned former System 1 staff supervisor and boss, has predicted that McLaren‘s Oscar Piastri will preserve his newly acquired championship result in declare the 2025 drivers’ title.
In an interview with Germany’s Sport1, Tost, who retired as Racing Bulls boss in 2023 after a profession that started supporting Ralf Schumacher at Williams many years in the past, was requested to pick his best drivers for a hypothetical F1 staff.
“I’d all the time select Max (Verstappen),” he stated. “However of the others, Oscar Piastri.”
Now in his third F1 season, the composed 24-year-old Australian seized the championship lead from McLaren teammate Lando Norris on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, regardless of many believing Norris retains a slight edge in uncooked tempo, tempered by perceived psychological fragility.
On whether or not Verstappen can overhaul each McLaren drivers to safe a fifth consecutive title, Tost famous, “Red Bull is bringing out a significant replace in Imola to considerably enhance the automobile. Let’s hope it really works for them.”
Ought to Crimson Bull’s improve falter, McLaren faces the fragile problem of managing a Piastri-Norris duel for the championship crown.
“Essentially, McLaren has a luxurious downside,” stated Tost, 69. “They’ve the perfect automobile, two excellent drivers, and their sole objective is to win the constructors’ championship. Due to this fact, they’ll pit the 2 drivers towards one another as much as a sure level. And I feel Piastri will prevail,” the Austrian asserted.
“He has great primary pace, similar to Norris, however is mentally a lot stronger than Norris. Due to this fact, Piastri has an enormous likelihood of successful the championship this yr.”
Tost additionally highlighted one other compelling teammate rivalry in 2025: Ferrari’s newcomer Lewis Hamilton, 40, versus the established Charles Leclerc, 27.
“He must develop into extra constant,” Tost stated of Leclerc.
“One other factor is definite—if he needs to win races and the world championship, he has to beat Hamilton. As a result of, with out disparaging Hamilton, Leclerc is aware of the staff, and the age distinction can also be to his benefit. If Hamilton wins the duel, Leclerc may have misplaced a few of his status. The identical applies to Norris if he loses to Piastri at McLaren.”
Hamilton is grappling with adapting to Ferrari after his lengthy tenure at Mercedes, however Tost believes the strain lies primarily with Leclerc. When requested if Hamilton can afford to lose to his teammate, Tost replied, “You may by no means lose! However there’s the crucial age distinction. That is why Leclerc has to win.”
