Eddie Jordan has made his feelings very clear about McLaren driver Oscar Piastri in his rookie Formula 1 season.
Jordan and David Coulthard were speaking on the Formula For Success Podcast and raving about the young Australian.
It’s been the easiest season to be a rookie in Formula 1.
AlphaTauri brought in Nyck de Vries but lost faith in the Dutchman after just 10 races.
American youngster Logan Sargeant survived the season with Williams but scored just a single point in fortuitous circumstances.
Oscar Piastri, on the other hand, appeared right at home in Formula 1 once McLaren sorted their car out after a worryingly poor start to the year.
He was three points off breaking 100 during his debut year and scored two podiums in Japan and Qatar.
Eddie Jordan has admitted that he already loves Piastri after his first season in the sport.
Not only that, he’s backed the 22-year-old to improve quickly and be even better in 2024.
Lando Norris is one of the strongest drivers on the grid right now but might be put under increased pressure by his teammate next year.
Jordan impressed with Piastri this season
Reviewing McLaren’s season, Coulthard said: “Great to see Oscar [Piastri] show his potential alongside Lando [Norris].
Jordan interrupted him and added: “I love him!
“There’s a team that I was tough against, some of the things they did in the past I was critical about and I made my opinions clear.
“Similarly, I will make my opinion clear about the season that they’ve just had and that was a breath of fresh air, exactly right.
“Oscar for me was sensational. For a rookie to come in like that and do what he did against somebody with the outstanding talent of Lando Norris and we all know about how quick he is.
“The car has to be very nicely balanced and they in my opinion, will be a big surprise next year to most people.
“I’d be surprised if Oscar doesn’t push on. I can imagine Ann and Mark Webber pushing hard, making sure he’s doing all the right things because that’s a very sensible, clever head on those people.”
Virtually everyone within Formula 1 will agree with Jordan that Piastri has had a superb first season in the sport.
Martin Brundle has explained exactly what it is about the former F2 champion that’s really impressed him this year.
Piastri already has a race win to his name although he’s not officially a Grand Prix winner as it was the Sprint Race in Qatar where he took the chequered flag first.
The Australian will have his eye on finishing above ninth in the Drivers’ Championship next year, especially if McLaren get their act together earlier in the campaign next year.
Spirits should be very high in Woking right now considering how strong their driver line-up is.
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