Oscar Piastri enters 2025 with one goal — victory in Formula 1 - Voice of Asia

Australian Formula One driver Oscar Piastri is enjoying his off-season ahead of the 2025 season. He's using this time to reconnect with loved ones and attend the Australian cricket team's Boxing Day match as a guest, all part of the 23-year-old's summer break.

When asked by ABC Sport about his F1 goals for the upcoming 2025 season, Piastri answered with one resounding word: "Win." Last season, Piastri evolved from a promising rookie to a Grand Prix winner and a star of the sport. In just his second F1 season, Piastri demonstrated driving skills beyond his years, continuously improving as the season progressed, indicating a bright future ahead.

He finished the year with two Grand Prix victories, one sprint race win, fourth place in the drivers' championship, and helped McLaren secure their first team title in 26 years. Now, heading into the new season, expectations are high that he and teammate Lando Norris will be central figures in this year's driver's championship battle. Four-time defending champion Max Verstappen is expected to be the toughest opponent in 2025, but McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes all showed last year that they have the cars and drivers to end the Dutchman's dominance.

Knowing he can match and beat the best, Piastri has set his sights on becoming the first Australian to win the F1 title since Alan Jones in 1980. “I’m very much looking forward to next year. From day one, winning will be our goal,” Piastri told ABC Sport. “It’s certainly going to be a fight. There’s a reason why the top teams are the top teams, and they will all be looking to come back at us in 2025.”

In 2024, Norris garnered more attention, with the British driver mounting exciting but ultimately unsuccessful challenges to Verstappen. However, with two Grand Prix wins and multiple podium finishes, Piastri showed that he is ready to join the top contenders every weekend. “I’ve only completed two F1 seasons, so naturally there’s still a lot of growth and improvement to come. That’s something that excites me a lot, knowing that there’s still a lot of potential to unlock.” “Experience is something you can’t buy, but I’m gaining that in this area bit by bit, and I’m very excited about the future.”

Last season, when Norris was mounting a challenge to Verstappen in the drivers' championship, Piastri was asked by his team to prioritize his British teammate. This decision came after Piastri made a brilliant first-lap overtake on his teammate to take the lead at the Italian Grand Prix. Ferrari ultimately devised a race strategy that guided Charles Leclerc to beat Piastri and then Norris, costing the British driver valuable points in his pursuit of Verstappen.

Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber, had to deal with internal politics during his own career. When asked if he had spoken to his manager about this, Piastri indicated it wasn't his concern and that McLaren will allow him and Norris to compete in 2025. “It’s not something I’m focusing on, I’m more focused on racing and winning,” he said. “When I was asked at the end of the year, I helped Lando and the team. I know that if the roles were reversed, I would have been helped too.” “Next year, we’ll be free to race each other.”

Piastri's challenge for the drivers' championship will begin in the perfect place for Victorians, in front of his home crowd in Melbourne. The Australian Grand Prix, which is the season opener for the first time since 2019, has several storylines brewing. Expectations are high that McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes can deliver a four-way battle for the team title for the fans. It is also expected that several drivers will be in contention for the world championship as the season progresses.

Melbourne will also host Lewis Hamilton’s debut for Ferrari, while Australian driver Jack Doohan will also race an F1 car in front of his home crowd for the first time. “Having the season opener in my backyard is amazing. I may be a bit biased, but the atmosphere in Melbourne is very special, and the fans always come out in droves,” Piastri said. “The reception I received there over the past two seasons gave me goosebumps, and I know 2025 will be no different. I can’t wait to get started.” The Australian Grand Prix will be the first of 24 Grand Prix races in the 2025 F1 season. The race weekend will be held at Albert Park from March 14 to 16.