Peter Windsor says one ‘phenomenal’ young driver on the current F1 grid may have a higher ceiling than McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Norris took his 14th career podium at the Australian Grand Prix last time out, surpassing Nick Heidfeld’s record for most top-three finishes without a race win.
Windsor, speaking on the Inside Line F1 Podcast, argued that one driver could have a brighter future ahead.
Norris, 24, is the fourth-youngest driver on the current grid behind teammate Oscar Piastri (22), Williams’ Logan Sargeant and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda (both 23).
Despite that, he’s already started 107 races during his career, the entirety of which he’s spent at McLaren.
Half of his podiums to date have been runner-up finishes, with six of those coming last season.
He took the one and only pole position of his career to date at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, but surrendered victory when he tried to stay out during a late rain shower.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has backed him to land his first victory during the 2024 season.
Peter Windsor says Oscar Piastri has more potential than Lando Norris
Despite Norris’ strong track record, Windsor reckons that Piastri could eventually surpass him.
This is down to both his ‘more clinical’ style behind the wheel and his ‘more self-critical’ approach off the track.
Windsor feels that Norris looks for excuses too readily when the Australian out-performs him.
He said: “I think as you look at it at the moment, Oscar Piastri definitely has more potential than Lando Norris.
“The way he takes corners is more efficient, he’s more clinical, he’s what I would call a short-corner driver.
“He gets into the corner earlier, he does a lot of mid-corner manipulation with his hands, and particularly with his footwork, which we never see on camera. He’s got phenomenal footwork, Oscar Piastri.
“He’s a very self-critical athlete, let alone racing driver, which is a very good sign. He’s always looking at other drivers, seeing if he can learn from them.
“I think Lando is very, very good, but he’s at a peak that he’s not going to be able to improve upon, other than just with normal experience, unless he becomes more self-critical.
“I think he thinks there’s only one way of taking a corner, and that’s the way he takes it.
“I’m not sure, if you talked to Lando, that he would know why Oscar Piastri, relatively often, is as quick if not quicker than he is.
“He wouldn’t really have an explanation for it, other than to say, ‘well he just got a good run’ or ‘his car set-up was better’ or Lando made a mistake.
“There is a fundamental difference in the technique that they use. To me, Oscar’s definitely got more scope and more potential. I would say he’s definitely a potential world champion.”
How old is Oscar Piastri?
At 22 years, 11 months and 27 days, Piastri is the youngest driver in the field right now.
He enjoyed one of the finest rookie campaigns in F1 history last year as he racked up 97 points en route to ninth in the standings.
Only Lewis Hamilton, who amassed 109 in 2007, has scored more in a debut campaign, though it’s worth noting the points on offer increased considerably in 2010.
Having narrowly missed out on a podium at the British Grand Prix, a race that he says changed his life, Piastri got off the mark at the Japanese GP.
The following weekend, he won the Sprint Race at Qatar ahead of Verstappen – one of only two instances all season where Red Bull failed to take the chequered flag.
He would then go on to finish second in the race.
After three rounds, Norris leads Piastri 2-1 in both the qualifying and race-day head-to-heads.
However, it’s Piastri who has a marginal advantage in the championship, with 28 points compared to Norris’ 27.
He’s reportedly a target for Red Bull if they lose Verstappen to a rival team.
Windsor isn’t the only one who regards him as a possible F1 title-winner, with compatriot and 1980 champion Alan Jones making a similar prediction.
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