2016 Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg believes that Oscar Piastri will struggle to have a career in Formula 1 if he fails to beat Lando Norris at McLaren next year.
Piastri will make his F1 debut with the Woking-based team in 2023, replacing the out-of-sorts Daniel Ricciardo.
Piastri joins Norris at the squad, with the latter set to enter his fifth campaign with McLaren in F1.
The Briton has performed admirably since his debut in 2019, taking a number of podium finishes and one pole position during his stint so far.
Piastri, who boasts a strong resumé following his junior career, will need to be on top of Norris in the Drivers’ standings if he wants to fashion a career in F1, according to Rosberg.
“It’s a brave move by Oscar, it really is,” Rosberg told Sky F1. “It is either he beats Lando or he’s out basically of the sport, so it’s really, really tough, but he believes in himself. And if you think you’re that good, you’ve got to go for it.
“For Oscar, if you’re a young driver and you have the opportunity to race for McLaren, and you’re free to do so, you have to take it. Opportunities like that don’t come around all the time, so he’s done everything right.”
Rosberg heaped praise on Norris, stating his driving mirrors that of a world champion – making Piastri’s task of beating him that much more difficult.
“It is going to be tough for Oscar to do well there,” Rosberg said. “Lando is world-class, he’s world championship material there so it’s not going to be easy to go there and do better than Daniel.
“Ricciardo is a multiple race winner, one of the best drivers in the world, and has found it unbelievably tough against Lando. Oscar is brand new to this sport!
“All the indications are that Oscar really is one of those future superstars. But I can’t really believe that suddenly Ricciardo has unlearned to drive super fast.
“Therefore, I think it’s Lando who’s just performing like a world champion at the moment, he’s just driving so incredibly well.
“So I really think it will be a big, big challenge for Oscar next year to be close to Lando.”
What a ridiculous proposition. To suggest a rookie cannot stay in Formula 1 unless they beat someone who has been there for five years is nonsense. How many times did Rosberg beat Hamilton? On this basis he should not have been racing in 2016.
So does that mean if Piastri beats Lando then Lando should be out? Why is so much pressure put on non-European drivers in Formula 1 it’s wrong.
Paul Bear I agree 100%. Rosburg is the one who is attempting to put pressure on Piastri so he fails in beating Mercedes. Head games, nothing more, nothing less.
Rosberg and Hamilton’s stats at Mercedes were pretty close, and if Hamilton’s slump towards the end was any indication, Rosberg would have greatly surpassed him in 2017 had he not retired. For six year prior Rosberg also frequently got the same results Hamilton is getting now except in a junk Williams.
You do realise Nico would have won the 2015 championship by at least 5 points without the one engine failure and a locked throttle, right? Yes, Lewis had reliability issues in 2016 too but he still would have likely lost, because Nico would have won the 2016 championship by a lot more had he not sandbagged during the final 4 of races as he only needed to finish on the podium to clinch the championship.
Bro himself was out of F1 even after beating 7-time champion in the same machinery
but he retired. what he is suggesting is if any new driver does not come in and beat their team mate they are out. ludicrous
Not necessarily & premature for definitive judgment.
I am becoming ever more convinced that there exists some form of competition between Rosberg and Villeneuve to see who can come out with the most idiotic drivel.
Why is this idiotic? Piastri has already rubbed most of the grid the wrong way by entering F1 the way he did (despite what actually went down). It is unlikely anyone would want to hire him when/if Brown the Clown dumps him for the next flavor of the week.