Rosberg tips Piastri for glory after Montreal ‘watershed’ moment

Sky F1 pundit Nico Rosberg believes Formula 1 witnessed a pivotal shift in the championship battle at last weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, calling Oscar Piastri’s composed performance a “watershed moment” that now makes him the frontrunner for the 2025 world title.

The McLaren driver extended his lead at the top of the standings to 22 points after teammate Lando Norris crashed out in Montreal, handing Piastri a crucial advantage as the season heads into its second half.

The incident, in which Norris rear-ended the Aussie during a tense scrap for fourth place, further dented the Briton’s hopes of catching up in what has become an increasingly one-sided intra-team title race.

“Piastri is Now the Big Favourite”

Reflecting on last weekend’s round of racing in Montreal, Rosberg didn’t hold back in his praise for Piastri.

“That, for me, was a watershed moment out there,” Rosberg said, reflecting on the drama in Canada.

“I would say it’s the first time, for me, to say that Oscar Piastri is now the big favourite to win the championship this year. I’ve never said that so far. In fact, I was always more on Lando’s side.”

Rosberg, who knows first-hand the pressures of a tight title fight between teammates, admitted he had long expected Norris to find an edge – but now sees Piastri’s error-free consistency as a decisive factor.

“I was like, he’s going to clean things up and just have that little edge and speed, and he’s going to bring it home,” he said.

“But Oscar is just so strong. He’s just always delivering zero mistakes. I’ve seen one mistake from him in the last two years in the most horrible conditions in Melbourne [in this year’s Australian Grand Prix], and that’s it. He’s just always there.”

Webber’s Influence and Piastri’s Calm Mentality

Rosberg also credited Piastri’s level-headedness – both on and off the track – as a major asset in his championship bid, referencing a conversation with Piastri’s manager, former F1 race winner Mark Webber.

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“I spoke to Mark Webber, who used to be my team-mate at Williams, who’s now Oscar’s manager, and he said that whether he finishes first or fifth, in the evening, it’s just having a pizza, the same state of mind,” Rosberg revealed.

“Of course, there’s nice excitement after the race, but then it’s done and we move on. It’s just super, incredibly solid.”

As McLaren enters a critical stretch of the season, Piastri’s calm demeanor, clinical execution, and ability to stay out of trouble may prove the ultimate difference-maker – qualities that now have a world champion like Rosberg tipping him as the man to beat.

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