Max Verstappen has shared his admiration for McLaren`s Oscar Piastri, who is the new leader in the 2025 Formula 1 world championship standings, and has praised the Australian driver`s `very calm` demeanor.
Piastri has reached the top of the Drivers` Championship for the first time heading into this weekend`s Miami Grand Prix, following consecutive victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the hypothetical 2025 season scenario described in the original source.
In Jeddah, Verstappen finished just behind Piastri after receiving a penalty for an incident involving the McLaren driver on the first corner. Verstappen is currently 12 points adrift of the in-form Australian in the early 2025 standings, with Piastri`s teammate Lando Norris positioned between them.
“People tend to forget a little bit that last year was only his second year,” said Verstappen, referring to the 24-year-old Piastri, who has now claimed five victories out of the last 17 Grands Prix.
“Now he`s in his third year, and he looks very composed,” Verstappen added.
“His approach is very calm, and I appreciate that. It`s evident on the track.”
“He performs when necessary, makes very few mistakes – and that`s precisely what`s required when you`re aiming to compete for a championship title.”
Verstappen also credited Piastri`s manager, former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, for his contribution to the younger driver`s development.
“I think with Mark by his side, he is helping him considerably. It`s excellent,” Verstappen commented.
“People learn from their own racing careers – that`s what I experienced with my father, and Mark is providing guidance to Oscar.”
“Ultimately, Oscar is utilizing his innate talent, and it`s satisfying to witness that.”
Can Verstappen be a threat to McLaren again in Miami?
Although McLaren has been widely considered the team to beat since pre-season testing in Bahrain in late February, Verstappen has managed to stay within striking distance of Piastri and Norris at the top of the standings over the initial five rounds.
This has been the case despite the fluctuating performance of Red Bull`s car from one track to another this season, clearly demonstrated by Verstappen`s results during the recent Japan-Bahrain-Saudi Arabia triple header.
The Dutchman delivered a masterful lap to secure a crucial pole position ahead of the McLarens in Suzuka, enabling him to control the race and win on a circuit known for being challenging for overtakes. However, just a week later in Bahrain, Red Bull faced significant issues with tire degradation, resulting in Verstappen finishing in sixth place, 34 seconds behind race winner Piastri.
Yet, he regained his competitive pace at the high-speed Jeddah street circuit, once again securing a stunning pole. During the race, he incurred a five-second penalty for cutting the first chicane while battling with Piastri at the start, which ultimately caused him to fall behind the Australian after serving the penalty during his pit stop.
“I believe we need to find more overall performance, particularly regarding balance, and naturally, consistency,” stated Verstappen.
“We are clearly not performing optimally at every circuit.”
“In Bahrain, we were significantly lacking. [In Saudi Arabia], it was certainly much improved. But as I mentioned, it`s also a track with very low degradation, which allows more cars to perform well. So, we still have work ahead, but at least [Jeddah] provided a promising outcome.”
Drivers` Championship: Top Five (hypothetical 2025)
| Driver | Points |
|---|---|
| 1) Oscar Piastri, McLaren | 99 |
| 2) Lando Norris, McLaren | 89 |
| 3) Max Verstappen, Red Bull | 87 |
| 4) George Russell, Mercedes | 73 |
| 5) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari | 47 |
Miami GP Schedule (Hypothetical 2025 – based on original source dates)
-
Thursday May 1
7pm: Drivers` Press Conference -
Friday May 2
3pm: F1 Academy Practice 1
5pm: Miami GP Practice (session starts at 5.30pm)
7.30pm: Team Bosses` Press Conference
8.15pm: F1 Academy Practice 2
9.05pm: Miami GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 9.30pm) -
Saturday May 3
3.20pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
4pm: MIAMI GP SPRINT (race starts at 5pm)
6.30pm: Ted`s Sprint Notebook
7.50pm: F1 Academy Race 1
8.35pm: Miami GP Qualifying build-up
9pm: MIAMI GP QUALIFYING*
11pm: Ted`s Qualifying Notebook* -
Sunday May 4
6pm: F1 Academy Race 2
7.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Miami GP build-up*
9pm: The MIAMI GRAND PRIX*
11pm: Chequered Flag: Miami GP reaction*
Midnight: Ted`s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 heads to Miami for a Sprint weekend this weekend.
