Going into 2025, many expected these two drivers to be the main contenders, among them was Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. However, at the start of the 2025 season, it seems that Oscar Piastri is the main driver at McLaren this year, with Norris losing out on several occasions and Verstappen trailing behind. The Australian driver has won five of the nine races so far and shows no signs of stopping soon.
With his stellar performances, Oscar Piastri managed to take charge of the Driver’s championship. Many in the paddock have started comparing the Australian driver to 4-time world champion Max Verstappen. However, Helmut Marko doesn’t believe Piastri is quite there yet.
Helmut Marko comments on Verstappen vs Piastri in performance
Despite the obvious gap in performance, Verstappen has managed to stay with the McLarens during many of the races. In a recent interview with the TV show Sport und Talk aus dem Hangar-7, Marko has commented on Verstappen and Piastri:
“Oscar learns very quickly, he’s a cool analyst by nature, but he’s not on Max’s level yet.”
Helmut Marko Sees Oscar Piastri as a Threat but Questions His Consistency
Oscar Piastri has demonstrated great pace and racecraft during the season so far. Consistently delivering and outscoring Norris on all but three occasions this year. In an interview with Drive To Survive season 7, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner stated that he would take Piastri over Norris, should he hire either of the drivers to his team.
However, when it comes to Max Verstappen, Piastri could still learn a thing or two. The Red Bull driver has delivered three shock pole positions this year despite McLaren looking to be the clear favourite.
The differences between Piastri and Verstappen as Formula 1 drivers
When Piastri joined Formula 1 just three years ago in 2023, he saw McLaren at the very bottom of the grid. Due to highly effective upgrades, McLaren rose to the top in just 1 year and won the constructors’ title in 2024. Piastri impressed with his raw speed but lost out to Norris until the start of the 2025 season.
“He’s very solid, very calm in his approach, and I like that” 👏
Max Verstappen is full of praise for 2025 championship rival, Oscar Piastri 🏆#F1 pic.twitter.com/F5WaRTTtzk
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 26, 2025
His driving style was more timid compared to other drivers like Leclerc, Verstappen and Russell. Piastri isn’t aggressive in his racing, but follows the car and increases the pressure on the driver ahead.
Verstappen, on the other hand, is very aggressive in his driving. That is whether he is overtaking, defending or trying to go for pole position. While Piastri tries to gain time by maximising the exit speed, you see Verstappen often flying over the kerbs, taking more risks. But raw speed and risk aren’t all you need to be fast in Formula 1.
Consistency is key in Formula 1, but it needs to exist across the board. In the current era, overtaking during a Grand Prix can be difficult, as seen in the opening rounds of the 2025 season. For a driver like Piastri, maintaining consistency not just in pace but also in racecraft, strategy execution, and adaptability will be crucial in matching the all-around competitiveness of the main 2025 title contenders.
