$40m Piastri "will be world champion" says F1 cult hero

F1 cult hero and former team principal Guenther Steiner has tipped Australia's Oscar Piastri as a future world champion after an impressive 2024 performance.

Steiner's praise for Piastri came on the same day the 23-year-old Melburnian signed a mega contract extension with McLaren reported to be worth in excess of $40 million a year.

Piastri and teammate Lando Norris looked the best outfit at F1's recent test event in Bahrain and they will be the biggest threat to Max Verstappen as he looks to secure a fifth consecutive title.

"Mclaren will be strong this year," Steiner said on SEN's Dwayne's World. "They showed in Bahrain they are very strong.

"This will make Australia happy with Oscar driving one of their cars.

"Oscar was given the race seat and impressed everybody last year; he won races and they have extended his contract now. He has the chance to win races and the championship.

"He must be in a good car, this year he is. McLaren is a strong team and they will be good going forward. They have what it takes to have a world champion.

"From testing, the McLaren was the best car, so Oscar's chances of winning are 50-50 with Lando Norris. They are equally talented and it will come down to form on the day. This weekend it will be between them (for the win)."

Piastri__ signed his new multi-year deal on the eve of the 2025 season opening race in Melbourne.

Just two years after replacing compatriot Daniel Ricciardo, he has proven himself worthy of one of the best drives in the sport amassing 10 podiums and two victories in his 46 Grands Prix.

Proud to have been handed the extension, Piastri said: “It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision.

“The team had the belief in me when we signed in 2022, and the journey we’ve gone on over the past two seasons to help return McLaren to the very top of the sport has been incredible.

“There are so many talented and special people working at MTC who have helped me to become a Formula 1 race winner very early in my career. Therefore, I’m very proud to be continuing to represent this legendary team for many years to come.”

Piastri was the only driver to complete every race lap last year to finish with a career-best fourth in the Drivers’ Championship. This in turn went along way in handed McLaren their first Teams’ title since 1998.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown added: “It’s fantastic to confirm Oscar’s extension with McLaren. Not only is he an incredibly talented driver, but his work ethic and cultural fit within the team made it a no-brainer to extend his time in papaya.

“We’ve got the best driver line-up on the grid, and in the past two seasons, we’ve seen how much of an asset to the team Oscar is both on and off track.

“He was absolutely fundamental in adding to our legacy with the 2024 Constructors’ Championship last season, so we’re all excited to see what we can do in the years to come as we continue to fight for World Championships together.”