2025 F1 Championship Battle A Two-Horse Race Between McLaren Duo, Admits Oscar Piastri
Oscar Piastri leads the F1 championship, with McLaren dominating the season. Piastri and Norris are the main contenders, while Max Verstappen trails by 81 points in third place.
Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri acknowledged on Thursday that the title battle has effectively become an all-McLaren affair between himself and teammate Lando Norris.
The Australian leads Norris by 16 points heading into this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the mid-season break in August.
Meanwhile, defending world champion Max Verstappen—a four-time title winner with Red Bull—is a distant 81 points adrift in third, a gap that is increasingly viewed as unbridgeable given McLaren's current form.
'I Suppose So": Piastri Concedes It's a Two-Horse Race
When asked by reporters in Budapest whether the championship was now a two-way contest between himself and Norris, Piastri replied, 'I suppose so."
While both drivers and McLaren team officials had previously resisted making any bold declarations about the title picture, the evidence is now difficult to ignore.
'Every weekend now—or at least the last few weekends—it's been Lando and I," said Piastri. 'I expect our competition to still be strong and put up a good fight, especially at certain tracks through the rest of the year."
Despite the growing gap, Piastri warned against ruling out other challengers just yet: 'Whether that comes from Max, or Ferrari, or Mercedes, or someone else, we never really know. I'm not too concerned about that. I'm just trying to win each race and extend the lead."
McLaren Dominating the Field
McLaren's dominance in the 2024 season has been staggering. The team has already secured six one-two finishes in 13 races, with Piastri claiming six victories and Norris four. Verstappen, in contrast, has won only twice this season.
McLaren lead the Constructors' Championship with 516 points, holding a commanding 268-point advantage over second-placed Ferrari.
The Hungaroring is expected to further play to McLaren's strengths. 'Hungary has been historically a good track for us as a team—certainly the two years I've been with them," said Piastri. 'I expect us to be strong again this weekend."
The 23-year-old Australian claimed his maiden Formula One victory at the circuit last year, while Norris started from pole.
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July 31, 2025, 23:31 IST
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