Alain Prost, a four-time Formula 1 champion, has publicly supported Oscar Piastri in his pursuit of the 2025 McLaren F1 title, emphasizing his early involvement in the Australian driver’s career. Speaking during an appearance at Goodwood House, Prost explained that he was instrumental in convincing Renault to bring Piastri into the Alpine Academy during his formative years.
Early Support and Recognition of Talent
Prost shared his perspective with Karun Chandhok, noting he persuaded Renault despite initial reluctance. He recalled watching Piastri compete in lower categories such as Formula 3 and Formula 2 before recommending him for the development program.
“I know Oscar much better because I was the one to push Renault to bring him in the academy a long time ago,”
Prost stated.
“I saw him driving in Formula 3 or even 4, and then Formula 2.”
—Alain Prost, Former Alpine Non-Executive Director
Piastri’s Progression and Current Standing in Formula 1
Since joining the Alpine Academy in 2020, Piastri has demonstrated rapid progress. Following two years with Alpine, he signed with McLaren in 2023 amid a well-publicized contract dispute with the French team, confirmed by a viral social media announcement. Currently, Piastri leads the drivers’ championship, holding an eight-point advantage over his McLaren teammate Lando Norris after 12 races. Their intense rivalry has become a central storyline in the season’s unfolding drama.
Prost Sees Himself in Piastri’s Racing Style
The 70-year-old champion observed traits in Piastri that remind him of his own racing mindset, particularly the strategic approach to overtaking. Prost described Piastri’s driving as thoughtful and clever, qualities he admires and believes are critical to success.
“I like the way he behaves, you know, a little bit like me – thinking about when to do the right manoeuvre for overtaking and being a little bit more clever,”
Prost said.
“I like him, you know. You never know what’s going to happen, but this type of driver, normally they can make a progression.”
—Alain Prost
The Battle Between McLaren Teammates Heats Up
Prost commented on the nature of driver rivalries, emphasizing that skill alone sometimes leads to a plateau but real progress comes from drivers with a strategic edge. While he admitted not knowing Norris well, Prost believes the championship should be decided by the best performer.
“With some, if it’s only the driving skill, sometimes they are in a plateau. But I don’t know Lando very much. But honestly, for this type of championship, the best should win, and that’s it.”
—Alain Prost
The championship rivalry between Piastri and Norris intensified after a collision in the Canadian Grand Prix forced Norris to retire. Despite this, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown confirmed that the team will continue allowing the drivers to compete freely, emphasizing clean, hard racing to maximize points for the team.
CEO Zak Brown on Encouraging Competition and Team Chemistry
At Silverstone, Brown highlighted the importance of the drivers‘ relationship and mutual respect amid their competition. He praised the teamwork and resilience shown during the Canadian incident and expressed confidence in their ability to battle until the season’s end without damaging team harmony.
“It’s the same rules,”
Brown explained.
“Race each other hard, race each other clean, and try and get as many points on the board for the team. Then it’s up to them to decide who is in front of who.”
“I think the relationship they have is fantastic. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into building our team and having chemistry within the team, and that starts with the drivers. I think you saw how they handled Canada, how they’ve conducted themselves, and I see no reason why they can’t have a big battle all the way to the end.”
“May the best man win, and I’m sure they’ll shake hands and congratulate each other. Obviously, both of them want to win, but I see no reason why, knowing the personalities and the way they race, that they can’t remain very good team-mates.”
—Zak Brown, McLaren Racing CEO
Implications for the McLaren F1 Title Fight
Alain Prost’s endorsement of Oscar Piastri and his description of the driver’s skills underline the growing confidence in Piastri’s potential to secure the McLaren F1 title. With both McLaren contenders pushing each other to deliver their best, the championship battle is poised to remain thrilling in the upcoming races. How this rivalry develops will significantly influence McLaren’s success and the broader dynamics of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. “Did charles leclerc adopt oscar piastri? that answer also changed a few weeks ago, and yes, i did. he’s one of my sons now.”
A. Did Charles legally become Oscar Piastri’s parent?
Q. Is Oscar Piastri a nice person?
A. This might be the first time Oscar Piastri, known for his great personality, appeared upset after a race. I understand why he felt that way. Where I’m from, people might call his reaction “grumpy.”
Q. How did Lily Zneimer and Oscar Piastri meet?
A. They first encountered each other at Haileybury boarding school. During their second-to-last year, Piastri and Zneimer began a romantic relationship. Piastri shared on the Eff Won podcast in 2023 that they have been a couple for more than four years since then.
