
©McLaren
6. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
Championship final position: 4th
Number of wins: 2
Best Qualifying: 2nd
From being the best rookie in 2023, Oscar Piastri elevated himself to potential stardom in 2024. His second season in Formula 1 reached a high point in Baku, where he held off a relentless charge from Charles Leclerc. That display of composure and car control against one of the sport’s elite drivers was as strong a statement as Max Verstappen’s debut win with Red Bull Racing at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona nearly a decade ago.
With a driver of Piastri’s caliber alongside Lando Norris, McLaren faced a unique challenge. The young Australian’s competitiveness and occasional reluctance to play the team game left the team grappling with difficult strategy decisions.
Despite these frustrations, Piastri closed the gap significantly on his more experienced teammate. While Norris might still hold a slight edge in direct comparisons and in qualifying, Oscar has shown enough to warrant serious consideration as a title contender if the opportunity arises soon.
As 2025 approaches, Piastri seems poised for even greater achievements. Calm under pressure, increasingly competitive, and hungry to refine his craft, there is no question that he is laying the groundwork to become a major force in Formula 1’s future.