Rejecting a team and joining midfield rivals even before racing in the premier class. This is how Oscar Piastri started his Formula 1 journey. The rookie Australian has immeasurable pressure on his shoulders even before his debut. However, the pressure that Piastri mounted on himself is incomparable to what some people are putting him under with their comparisons of the new McLaren man to a Brazilian legend, Ayrton Senna.

As per Motorsport-Nextgen a former Ferrari and Williams F1 team manager made the comparison. The comparison Peter Windsor made might be outrageous to some. However, he and “a lot of people are telling” Oscar Piastri is the next Senna.

He started his argument by discussing Piastri’s actions. “I guess we must all be excited about Oscar Piastri because of what he has achieved in Formula 3 and Formula 2.”

“…he had the audacity to turn down a starting place at Alpine. I don’t care what people say, that’s what he did and if you do that, then you have great self-confidence,” he said.

Then the former team manager revealed he was fortunate enough to witness Senna live in action for his first-ever Grand Prix weekend. Based on his experience, he made the comparison. “So I have to say that the level of expectation around Piastri is similar because he’s a guy who said no to Alpine and is going to McLaren. But assuming he’s the next Ayrton Senna, which a lot of people are telling us, then it will be interesting to see how he gets away with it,” he made his argument.

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Piastri’s calm head and maturity are appreciated by other people as well. However, he hasn’t earned higher praise than this comparison. Although, the former boss believes Lando Norris won’t be a pushover.

Lando Norris will put up a fight against the next Ayrton Senna, Oscar Piastri

Peter Windsor might have given mighty praise to Piastri, but he doesn’t think Norris is an easy opponent. The Brit overshadowed Daniel Ricciardo after all, and he will be more than ready for his next challenge against the younger Australian.

“It will also be interesting to see how Lando Norris handles that from his side, really interesting.” He said and sided with Norris as well, “Personally, I think Lando is exceptionally good and he won’t have any problems with Piastri.”

The ball is in Norris’s court as to how he wants to lead his relationship with his new teammate. Sure, there may be a power struggle in the beginning. However, it will be important for both pilots to limit that power struggle on the track and work as a unit off of it.

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Will Piastri’s confidence make him discredit Norris’s seniority in the sport and make him target the Brit? Only time will tell.