Oscar Piastri and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris have been dominating the 2025 Formula 1 season so far, leaving very little opportunity for their rivals to shine. From the earliest rounds of the championship, two key things became clear. Firstly, that McLaren had taken a significant step forward in performance—perhaps more than initially anticipated. Secondly, that Max Verstappen, driving a Red Bull Racing car that appears to have lost its edge compared to previous seasons, could still pose a serious challenge thanks to his proven ability and racecraft.
Indeed, the three-time World Champion from the Netherlands has been the only non-McLaren driver to win races in the first half of the season, securing two victories while the rest of the field failed to match the consistent pace of the papaya-coloured cars.
However, in recent weeks, a noticeable dip in Verstappen’s form has coincided with increased speculation about his future, particularly rumours linking him with a potential switch to Mercedes for 2026. Since those reports began circulating, Verstappen has struggled to maintain momentum. He now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 69 points and has seen his previous cushion over George Russell—currently the lead Mercedes driver—shrink to just 18 points.
Despite the persistent media buzz around Verstappen and his potential career move, Oscar Piastri remains fully focused on his own performance and is showing no signs of distraction.
Piastri: “I’m not concerned with Verstappen’s choices or how many points he has”
When asked about the prospect of Verstappen joining Mercedes and how that might influence the remainder of the season or even 2026, Oscar Piastri offered a calm and confident response. Speaking to Crash.net, the Australian championship leader downplayed any concerns:
“Next year doesn’t worry me much,” said Oscar Piastri. “Whatever Max Verstappen decides is up to him, but I don’t think it will distract him necessarily. He’ll remain a threat at almost every Grand Prix, but when it comes to the championship, I’m not too concerned about what he’s doing or how many points he has.”
Oscar Piastri, who has been at the top of the standings since his dominant win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (Round 5), is approaching each race weekend with a clear mindset. His comments reflected a strong mental approach and a desire to stay focused on his personal objectives, rather than be drawn into speculation surrounding his closest rivals.
“I go into each weekend just trying to perform at my absolute best,” Oscar Piastri continued. “Max’s current position in the standings is not something I’m paying attention to. Right now, he’s quite far back, and we’ve built up a good lead that he would need to recover. Either way, I’m not worried.”
These remarks not only highlight Oscar Piastri’s growing confidence but also send a subtle message to both Max Verstappen and his own teammate Lando Norris: the 2021 Formula 2 champion is in full control of his championship campaign and won’t be easily shaken, regardless of the pressure or rumours swirling around the paddock.
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