Piastri on McLaren’s 2025 dominance: “A remarkable position to be in”

Written by Kavi Khandelwal

In stark constrast to the dramatic Formula One constructors' title fight of last year between McLaren and Ferrari, Oscar Piastri believes there is a feeling of "inevitability" surrounding the papaya's charge towards a second consecutive Constructors' Championship this season.

The championship leader arrives at the paddock for media day | Credit: Formula One

Speaking at the weekend's press conference, the Australian reflected on the team's dominant form. The campaign feels vastly different from the nail-biting 2024 season, which was only settled at the final grand prix.

Piastri said: "Last season went down to the final race and an eventful final race as well. There is much more of a sense of inevitability this year which is an amazing position to be in and is a testament to everyone in the team and I'm just the lucky guy who gets to drive the car."

He added: "It is just a testament to all the hard work in the team. It is a remarkable position that we are in, to be talking about clinching the Constructors' Championship this early. It is a very proud moment for everybody, myself included."

McLaren celebrating Oscar Piastri's win at Baku and leading the Constructors' battle | Credit: Formula One

McLaren's journey to their 2024 crown was a hard-fought battle. The team only seized the lead in the standings at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku following a win for Piastri and a P4 for Norris, making up 11 places during the race.

That pivotal result set up a tense run-in that culminated in a showdown at the season finale.

However, the current campaign has not been without its own internal challenges. Piastri’s comments also served to draw a line under the team's controversial orders at the recent Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

A slow pitstop for Lando Norris allowed Oscar Piastri to pass him in the Italian Grand Prix | Credit: Formula One

The drama unfolded when a slow pit stop for teammate and title rival Lando Norris saw him lose track position to Piastri. The McLaren pit wall intervened swiftly by asking the Australian driver to hand the position back to restore the original order. When questioned on the matter, Piastri confirmed the air had been cleared but that the specifics would remain private.

He said: "We know how we are going to go racing moving forward. What's happened is done, and excited to get racing. I think we have had a lot of discussions about how we want to go racing, and ultimately... it stays in house."

Whilst keeping the details of the team talks private, Piastri did reveal that the pit stop order was another element in the team's decision-making process.

Piastri adds: "From Monza, there was some... Another factor outside of the slow pit stop, being the order in which we pitted. That one I'm happy to talk about as it has happened. But you cannot plan for every single scenario that is going to happen. I trust the team's decisions."

Ultimately, the championship leader downplayed the controversy by admitting he did not have the pace to finish second on merit. He said: "In Monza I deserved to finish third. Not second. I was not quick enough all weekend and that is my main takeaway from that."