$100 million problem facing Aussie F1 star

2 years ago 161

World champion Nico Rosberg has warned Oscar Piastri's Formula 1 vocation could efficaciously beryllium implicit unless helium tin rapidly lucifer the gait of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

Piastri volition marque his debut for McLaren successful 2023, aft the Woking-based outfit won a tug-of-war for his services with the Alpine team.

The Australian arrives successful Formula 1 arsenic 1 of the hottest prospects successful caller years, having secured the Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles successful consecutive seasons.

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The respect successful which he's held has go adjacent clearer successful caller days, with Red Bull brag Christian Horner saying helium present regrets not signing the 21-year-old to the team's inferior program.

But Piastri faces a immense situation successful 2023, arsenic helium goes head-to-head with Norris, who galore respect arsenic a aboriginal satellite champion.

The 22-year-old Norris is already successful his 4th play of F1, and portion he's yet to triumph a race, he's comprehensively overshadowed Daniel Ricciardo successful the aforesaid car successful the past 2 years.

It's wherefore Rosberg, the 2016 satellite champion, says Piastri has his enactment chopped out.

"It is going to beryllium pugnacious for Oscar to bash good there," helium told Sky Sports F1.

"Lando is world-class, he's satellite title worldly determination truthful it's not going to beryllium casual to spell determination and bash amended than Daniel.

"Ricciardo is simply a aggregate contention winner, 1 of the champion drivers successful the world, and has recovered it unbelievably pugnacious against Lando. Oscar is marque caller to this sport."

Rosberg added that helium felt the spread betwixt Norris and Ricciardo was much to bash with the Englishman's speed, alternatively than Ricciardo's struggles.

"All the indications are that Oscar truly is 1 of those aboriginal superstars. But I can't truly judge that abruptly Ricciardo has unlearned to thrust ace fast," helium said.

"Therefore, I deliberation it's Lando who's conscionable performing similar a satellite champion astatine the moment, he's conscionable driving truthful incredibly well.

"So I truly deliberation it volition beryllium a big, large situation for Oscar adjacent twelvemonth to beryllium adjacent to Lando."

Piastri has a two-year woody with McLaren, portion Norris has different 3 years remaining connected his contract, reported to beryllium worthy successful the portion of $34 cardinal a year.

"It's a brave determination by Oscar, it truly is," said Rosberg. "It is either helium beats Lando oregon he's retired fundamentally of the sport, truthful it's really, truly tough, but helium believes successful himself. And if you deliberation you're that good, you've got to spell for it.

"For Oscar, if you're a young operator and you person the accidental to contention for McLaren, and you're escaped to bash so, you person to instrumentality it. Opportunities similar that don't travel astir each the time, truthful he's done everything right."

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