Piastri ready for F1 title fight to intensify

F1 is back from the summer break this weekend in Zandvoort, and Australia’s Oscar Piastri is ready to take his pursuit of history to the next level.

The 2025 Formula 1 World Championship has been an all-McLaren battle between Piastri and teammate Lando Norris.

Across the first 14 races that have featured numerous swings both ways, Piastri has emerged with a hard-fought lead of nine points, fuelling hopes of a first Aussie title since Alan Jones in 1980.

However, Norris has the momentum, having won three of the last four races to trim the deficit to the consistent Piastri.

With the summer break now over, only 10 races remain, and it all starts with this weekend’s Dutch Grand at the historic dunes of Zandvoort.

As the Abu Dhabi finale draws closer, the pressure will only rise between the teammates, with neither having previously won the biggest prize in world motorsport before.

The ever-measured Piastri is preparing himself for the deciding run home and does not feel daunted by the biggest races of his life.

He will continue to use manager Mark Webber as a source of advice, with the Red Bull veteran having led the 2010 title race ahead of the finale.

“The intensity will kind of naturally increase, because we get close to the end of the year, and I’m ready for that,” Piastri said.

“You know, being in that position before in other championships, and that kind of feeling and that countdown to the end of the year, that is the same, so I’m ready for that.

“I can lean on Mark, but, ultimately, it’s down to how I manage it, how I drive, how I cope with the things that are going to be coming.

But yes, having an important team around you and a good group of people around you, is very important to be able to lean on.

“Mark is certainly one of those people, and I’m excited to see how it goes.”

Despite being the leading driver of 2025, Piastri may be the underdog this weekend as he arrives at a track his rivals love.

The 2024 Dutch Grand Prix is arguably Norris’ career highlight having smashed the field.

He was the only driver to record a 1m09s lap in qualifying before he smashed Max Verstappen by 22s.

Meanwhile, Piastri started third, but missed the podium after getting stuck in dirty air.

However, Piastri does not believe the events of 2024 will have any bearing when F1 returns to Zandvoort as he has improved significantly in numerous areas, including tyre management.

“I’m not concerned about it,” he said.

“I think I’ve improved a lot of things this season and you know, honestly, quite often the tracks that were my weakest last year have been some of my strongest this year.

“So I’m not concerned, but obviously, just trying to have the best weekend you can and as fast as you can, as the name of the game every time.

“That’s what I was trying to do, and hopefully it could be a good week.”

2025 Dutch Grand Prix schedule (AEST)

Friday, August 29

Practice 1 – 20.30-21.30

Saturday, August 30

Practice 2 – 0.00-1.00

Practice 3 – 19.30-20.30

Qualifying – 23.00-0.00

Sunday, August 31

Grand Prix – 23.00

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