The 2025 Formula 1 season, despite showing a car clearly more dominant than the competition, may be less predictable than expected due to the main limitations of the two McLaren drivers and the constant threat posed by Max Verstappen. Among the title favourites is undoubtedly Oscar Piastri, who has been accused of favouritism by former driver Jacques Villeneuve.
Now in only his third year in the top tier of four-wheeled motorsport, Oscar Piastri is proving the talent he had already shown in junior categories. In fact, while many expected Norris to be McLaren’s leading driver, number 81 is putting him under considerable pressure. Four wins in the first six races of the championship, compared to just one—at home in Australia—for his teammate.
What impresses most about the 24-year-old is his composure. Even though he finds himself leading the drivers’ championship for the first time, Oscar Piastri doesn’t seem to be intimidated or distracted by the noise around him. He remains calm and focused on one clear goal.
Ahead of the season’s seventh round at the Imola circuit, Oscar Piastri came under fire from 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. Interviewed by Vision4Sport, he admitted: “Oscar doesn’t seem to feel the pressure at all, and he has an excellent manager in Mark Webber. He’s someone he can rely on—there’s a lot of balance and synergy between them.”
In the second part of the interview, he highlighted what he sees as clear favouritism toward the McLaren driver. “Piastri is loved. He’s like the ‘Golden Boy’ right now. If something were to happen, I’m sure he wouldn’t be penalised as easily as Max Verstappen. That factor will help him a lot in the title fight.”
“He reminds me of when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were battling for titles at Mercedes. If they committed the same infraction, Nico would get a penalty, Lewis wouldn’t. There’s currently that same slight imbalance, which puts Piastri on the favourable side of the scale.”
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