At the start of the 2024 Formula 1 season, many fans would have expected Max Verstappen to stroll to a fourth world championship.
Red Bull had a completely dominant car last year and it was hard to see any other team closing the gap over the winter.
However, Christian Horner’s team suddenly have two challengers and speaking on the Formula For Success Podcast, Eddie Jordan believes a contender from another team could give him a run for his money in 2025.
The gap in the Constructors’ Championship has shrunk to 24 points in recent races and despite Max Verstappen’s best efforts, Ferrari and McLaren are capable of closing the gap with Sergio Perez struggling for form.
Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have shown that it’s possible to beat the Dutchman now.
However, Jordan believes that McLaren star Oscar Piastri is a dark horse to win the 2025 F1 world championship.
He’s a huge fan of the young Australian and it feels like it’s only a matter of time until he joins Norris as a Grand Prix winner this season.
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Eddie Jordan thinks Oscar Piastri is a ‘dark horse’ for 2025 F1 title
It’s been a brilliant start to the 2024 campaign for McLaren and Oscar Piastri.
The team started the season in a battle with Mercedes to be the best of the rest behind Red Bull and Ferrari but have now joined the two teams at the front of the grid fighting for race wins.
Norris might have needed a bit of luck with the timing of the safety car in Miami but fully deserved his maiden win.
Piastri should have secured back-to-back front row starts once he received the full raft of updates from McLaren in Imola but was denied by a grid penalty.
At any other circuit, he would have backed himself to beat Charles Leclerc, but the lack of pit stops or legitimate overtaking opportunities meant he had to settle for second place.
Piastri only has three podiums to his name so far in his career but considering he’s only taken part in 30 Grand Prix, it’s still a very impressive record.
He’s on course to more than double his points tally from his rookie season and Jordan thinks Piastri could challenge for the title next season.
McLaren have one of the most exciting pairing on the grid at the moment and Andrea Stella and Zak Brown might have some welcome but difficult decisions to make if they’re both suddenly challenging for victories.
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Oscar Piastri having a very strong 2024 F1 season
Talking about the 23-year-old, Jordan said: “You can see that Oscar [Piastri] is just driving the boots off everything and he’s not worried about contracts, money, he’s got someone really clever to look after him.
“From that point of view, when you have that sort of relaxed atmosphere and when you have not the same pressure.
“I mean Lando [Norris], the pressure is on him, he’s supposed to be delivering, he’s the number one in the team and I think Oscar could be a real dark horse for the championship next year.
“He’s so clearly focused and he’s definitely there, he has to be considered.”
Piastri has heaps of potential and in the right car is more than capable of challenging regularly for wins and podiums.
Damon Hill has backed him to finish ahead of Max Verstappen at the Canadian Grand Prix which is a big call but doesn’t feel out of place.
If McLaren have the quickest car on the grid, then it’ll be fascinating to see who comes out on top between Norris and Piastri.
The Brit might have more experience but Piastri have already proven he’s an expert at keeping calm under pressure.
The post ‘Driving the boots off’: Eddie Jordan thinks three-podium F1 driver is a ‘real dark horse’ for the 2025 title appeared first on F1 Oversteer.