While Oscar Piastri is leading the Formula 1 World Championship and causing a stir in the paddock with his rise to prominence, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has given a clear and balanced opinion: Piastri may be talented, but he’s no Max Verstappen.
Piastri, aged 24, is now in a similar position to Verstappen, poised to take his first world title at the same age that Verstappen clinched his maiden championship in 2021. However, despite the rapid progression and composure shown by the McLaren driver, Marko believes the comparisons are premature.
“Piastri learns very quickly,” Marko told Red Bull-owned broadcaster ServusTV. “He’s a naturally cool-headed analyst. Very little unsettles him.” However, despite the praise, Marko was quick to emphasise his main point: “He’s not yet at Max’s level.”
The Red Bull advisor pointed to the recent Monaco Grand Prix as an example. “In Monte Carlo, Lando [Norris] was clearly stronger,” he noted, suggesting that Piastri is still inconsistent.
“He has his ups and downs,” he added, describing Piastri’s development as ongoing rather than complete.
A Tale of Two Paths to F1 Stardom
The comparisons between Verstappen and Piastri are inevitable, not only because of their similar age, but also because of Piastri’s impressive rise through the ranks. Yet Marko and others in the sport are quick to highlight how different their roads to the top have been.
Verstappen famously debuted in Formula 1 at just 17, becoming the youngest driver in history to compete in a Grand Prix. He had completed just one season of European Formula 3 before Red Bull promoted him directly to Toro Rosso in 2015. From there, his trajectory was meteoric, with victories, world titles and 163 Grand Prix starts by the age of 24.
Piastri, by contrast, followed what many consider the ‘traditional’ route. After winning the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles back-to-back in 2020 and 2021 respectively, he spent a year in the background at Alpine as a reserve driver. It wasn’t until 2023 that he finally secured a full-time Formula 1 seat at McLaren. By then, Verstappen had already won multiple world championships.
Christian Klien, the former F1 driver turned analyst, believes that these differences in experience are crucial to understanding the current dynamic.
“We mustn’t forget that Piastri is only in his third season,” he reminded us. “Verstappen had a massive head start. The comparison may be flattering, but it’s not quite fair yet.”
Zak Brown with strange wish his drivers “crash”
Piastri’s rise is triggering tensions at McLaren.
Despite not receiving full endorsement from Red Bull’s senior management, Piastri is turning heads within his own team — perhaps a little too much for comfort. According to Klien, the mounting pressure is starting to tell on his teammate, Lando Norris.
“Lando is already extremely fast,” Klien acknowledged, “but he’s slowly crumbling under Piastri.”
This is a bold claim, especially given Norris’s early dominance at McLaren and his status as the team’s poster boy in recent years. However, there may be some truth in Klien’s comments.
So far this season, Piastri has claimed five race wins compared to Norris’ two, and is now ten points ahead of his teammate in the standings. While Norris remains in contention for the championship, Piastri appears to be the more composed driver under pressure — a trait that many in the paddock regard as similar to Verstappen’s.
“His temperament is just incredible for someone so new to F1,” said Klien.
“He doesn’t just drive fast — he analyses, adapts and improves from session to session. That’s something even seasoned drivers struggle with.”
Verstappen Playing Catch-Up
While the rivalry between the McLaren drivers heats up, the most ominous part of the current championship picture lies further down the standings — specifically, in third place. Max Verstappen is already 49 points adrift of Piastri.
It’s a deficit that the four-time world champion has never had to recover from before. Red Bull’s 2025 campaign has been marred by internal tensions, technical inconsistencies and a car that, unlike in previous years, is simply not dominant. Verstappen has had to rely on damage limitation strategies rather than outright pace, and this is beginning to show in the standings.
Meanwhile, McLaren have surged ahead as the standout team, with consistent car performance, strong tyre management and qualifying pace giving both their drivers a shot at the title.
For Verstappen, the road back to championship contention is a daunting one. While the Red Bull camp remains confident in their driver’s ability to close the gap, the numbers — and the momentum — are currently in Piastri’s favour.
Marko sticks to the script
It’s no surprise that Helmut Marko would push back against any narrative positioning Piastri as Verstappen’s equal. After all, Marko discovered Verstappen and continues to be his staunchest advocate within the Red Bull empire. However, his comments hint at a grudging respect for Piastri’s achievements.
While Marko’s assertion that the Australian is still experiencing “ups and downs” may be true, it also seems like a strategic diversion, particularly given the statistics which suggest that Piastri is already outperforming many expectations. Five wins, a championship lead and the upper hand over a highly rated teammate like Norris? That’s not a résumé you dismiss lightly.
In Formula 1, however, pedigree and performance must be sustained throughout the full 24-race season. Marko’s point may not be that Piastri isn’t good, but that he hasn’t yet proven himself to be great over time.
Verstappen vs. Piastri: the future rivalry?
If this season’s championship battle stays close, the sport could be on the brink of a thrilling new rivalry. Verstappen versus Piastri. With Red Bull no longer the dominant force it once was and McLaren rediscovering its championship-winning form, the top of the Formula 1 standings is changing quickly.
What’s clear is that Oscar Piastri is no longer just a promising rookie or breakout star. He’s a bona fide title contender — perhaps even the man to end Verstappen’s era of dominance. Whether he has the consistency and resilience to succeed remains to be seen.
But one thing is undeniable: for the first time in years, Max Verstappen is looking over his shoulder. And what he sees is not Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc, but a cool, calculating young Australian gaining ground every race day.
Team boss backs Perez F1 return with Cadillac
MORE F1 NEWS – McLaren flexi-wing evades new FIA tests
The much awaited Spanish Grand Prix and the new technical directive introduced by the FIA to deal with flexible bodywork proved to be a damp squib. But for Red Bull attempting an audacious three stop strategy, the race would have been the usual procession we have come to know, and not love in Barcelona.
The anticipation for the penultimate F1 Grand Prix at the circuit de Catalunya was high, given the performance Red Bull appeared to have unlocked in the RB21 just two rounds earlier in Imola. There not only was Verstappen quickest in qualifying for the third time this season, but for the first time at the head of the field, the world champion drove away from the McLaren’s with ease after lap one.
Red Bull had introduced a big floor upgrade at the Emilia-Romagna weekend which they hoped would improve the downforce on their car, but without the associated drag. On its first outing it appeared as though it was the match for the McLaren 2025 package – flexi wings or not. Yet Imola was on the cool side for racing but come the…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
