The strength of the Formula 1 grid appears to be increasing all the time with legends of the sport extending their stay in the paddock and youngsters getting better with every race.
For the first time in years, F1 has seen seven different drivers stand on the top step of the podium after just 13 races.
Sergio Perez is the only driver in the top four teams yet to achieve that feat despite teammate Max Verstappen leading the Drivers’ Championship by a considerable margin.
The field is extremely competitive and with the summer break approaching, teams are wondering whether they can overturn the lead Red Bull have in the Constructors’ Championship.
Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard have been discussing the season on the Formula For Success Podcast so far.
It’s been much closer than many imagined at the beginning of the campaign and with the cars closer together than they have been since 2021, suddenly a group of drivers are being given the chance to match Verstappen at the front of the grid.
Jordan admitted that he’s been seriously impressed by McLaren star Oscar Piastri in recent races.
The Australian took the lead of the Hungarian Grand Prix at the first corner, overtaking teammate Lando Norris and holding off Max Verstappen before he handed 2nd place back to his McLaren partner.
Although Norris was leading the race for the final stint of the race, he did eventually hand the lead back to his young Australian teammate to take his maiden Grand Prix victory.
Jordan has now admitted that if he was still a Formula 1 team principal, he would be doing everything he can to sign Oscar Piastri.
The successful former team boss had a habit of picking up some of the best young drivers from around the world, developing them and then selling them on.
Piastri would be following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher who came through the Jordan F1 team ranks and has the potential to be a top driver in the future.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend
Eddie Jordan would go all-out to sign Oscar Piastri if he was an F1 team principal
Talking about the £90,000-a-week driver, Jordan said: “The reality is that I always wanted young drivers because they were better value.
“So, for example, had I been a team I would have gone absolutely b—- out to get somebody like Piastri.
“That’s the kind of person who would have fitted perfectly with me.
“After this win, do not be surprised if he goes on to be a very, very strong driver and competitor in that McLaren team and Lando needs to watch himself.”
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine
Oscar Piastri receives Belgian Grand Prix prediction boost after Hungarian GP victory
It’s easy to forget that the Hungarian Grand Prix was just the 35th Formula 1 race weekend Oscar Piastri has taken part in during his flourishing career.
Although he’s marginally still behind Norris in terms of raw pace, Piastri may have an even higher ceiling than his teammate.
Piastri was unbeatable during his junior career, winning F3 and F2 on his first try before McLaren poached him from Alpine.
Norris is the senior driver in the McLaren line-up although there isn’t an official number one and although Piastri may have to give way to Norris this year if he continues to close the gap to Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship, he won’t want to be the team’s de-factor number two for long.
Piastri has already been predicted to beat Verstappen at Spa on Sunday for the Belgian Grand Prix.
It would prove once again that Red Bull are in for a serious fight to retain the Constructors’ Championship and may make up their mind about the future of Perez.
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