Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has urged McLaren may retain Oscar Piastri within the race for the 2025 F1 title.
Piastri misplaced his lead within the F1 Drivers’ Championship after the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
He sits one level behind teammate Lando Norris with 4 races remaining.
Piastri has struggled with tempo in current rounds, ending fifth in each Austin and Mexico Metropolis.
For the reason that summer season break, Piastri has solely gained one race and completed on the rostrum twice.
Because of this, their 34-point benefit over Norris was overturned.
Piastri’s lack of tempo prior to now two races has led to theories of sabotage and the far-fetched concept that McLaren could also be favoring Norris.
McLaren has defined that Piastri’s driving type isn’t suited to low-grip circuits, suggesting that that is the explanation for the distinction between the 2 drivers.
Ecclestone, who raced in F1 till 2017, gave his ideas on the title battle between the McLaren pair.
Initially, Ecclestone thought Piastri would win the title, however feels “one thing is holding him again.”
“When the season began, I believed our Australian driver was going to be world champion. I believed he would win simply, however one thing is holding him again,” Ecclestone advised sport.de.
“I do not know what it’s. I do not know if McLaren are holding him again or what. There is a little bit of an issue inside the group and it is comprehensible that the group appeared to be giving very favorable remedy to the British driver.”
Ecclestone feels Norris has extra “star high quality” by way of being entrance and middle on tv and in entrance of the cameras.
Because of this, Ecclestone believes will probably be higher for McLaren as a group if Norris takes the lead on the finish of the season.
“I feel he falls extra into star high quality,” Ecclestone added.
“I feel from that perspective, I feel he would behave higher. I feel he likes TV, he likes cameras, he likes all the things. I feel journalists suppose the identical approach (as he does). I feel it is higher for McLaren.”
Verstappen: “Just a little particular”
Max Verstappen stays in competition for the title heading into the ultimate 4 races of the yr.
max verstappen
The Dutchman has gained three of the previous 5 races and is simply 36 factors behind the chief.
Ecclestone praised Verstappen, calling him “a little bit bit particular.”
“There is not any doubt about it. The automotive is nice. They’ve finished an excellent job with the automotive. Max is a little bit particular,” he added.
“He is a race driver. He will get what he must do. He isn’t political. He is a race driver.”
