Piastri chases the title, but Marko stands firm: 'Max is still better'

Oscar Piastri is well on his way to dethroning Max Verstappen as Formula 1 world champion after four seasons. If the McLaren driver succeeds in winning the title, he will do so at the same age as Verstappen celebrated his first championship.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, is full of admiration for Piastri but does not (yet) ascribe to him the same qualities he sees in Max Verstappen: “Piastri learns quickly,”  the Austrian said on Servus TV. “Piastri is also someone who analyzes in a cool manner.” But the advisor also said: “He is not yet at Max's level.”

Marko references the Monaco Grand Prix as an example. “In Monte Carlo, Lando [Norris] was clearly better again,” remembers Marko. His conclusion is that ''he still has his ups and downs."

What Marko didn’t say - but what is clear from the current World Championship standings - is that Piastri has had a better season so far than his teammate Norris, who is still clearly experiencing ups and downs. One week the Brit tops the charts; the next, he can’t keep up with Piastri.