Former Haas team boss Günther Steiner believes that Oscar Piastri should consider moving on if he loses the championship this year. The Australian was long considered a top contender, but lost the lead in the World Championship a few races ago; his teammate Lando Norris is now on track for his first world title. According to Steiner, Piastri might have a better chance with a competing team in the future.
Oscar Piastri topped the drivers’ standings for fifteen Grand Prix this year. However, due to a noticeable slump in form in the second half of the season, he lost the lead to Lando Norris during the Mexican GP. The latter has since extended his lead to 24 World Championship points. With just one last triple header on the calendar, time is running out for Piastri. Moreover, Norris is in top form, following consecutive victories in Mexico City and São Paulo.
Former Haas team boss Günther Steiner thinks that Piastri should consider a future outside of McLaren if he loses the title. “If he doesn’t win the championship, I think he still has a good chance of getting into another car,” Steiner said in the The Red Flags podcast. “He’s a good driver, but sometimes change is just healthy. He’s young enough and can easily adapt. He should do that, and I think he will do that. That’s my opinion.”
Fighting for Second Place
When asked what Piastri should do in the short term if he misses out on the world championship, Steiner replied: “He just needs to regroup in the winter and come back stronger than before. And if that doesn’t work, I think he really needs to switch teams. But of course, he could also come back even stronger. I still hold him in high regard.”
However, Steiner believes that even second place in the championship is not a certainty for the Australian, partly due to the rise of Max Verstappen. After a stunning comeback in Brazil, the reigning world champion finished ahead of Piastri in P3. The difference between them is still 25 championship points. Can Verstappen overtake him in the final trio? “Why not?” responded Steiner. “He just keeps performing. And if you say that Oscar is now mentally broken, then Max will absolutely beat him,” he added. “Max is motivated, as we saw in Brazil. He didn’t give up after a poor qualification. He rolled up his sleeves, wiped out the deficit, and finished on the podium.”
