Ecclestone: Piastri "Best Driver After Verstappen," Forecasts 2024 Title

Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes Oscar Piastri is the second-best driver on the grid, only behind Max Verstappen, and predicts the Australian will be crowned world champion this year.\n\n### Why it matters\nEcclestone's bold claim highlights Piastri's rising profile and potential, positioning him as a significant contender for future titles, despite being currently nine points behind his teammate Lando Norris. Such an endorsement from a figure like Ecclestone carries considerable weight in the F1 paddock.\n\n### The details\nEcclestone praised Piastri's professional approach and ability to learn from errors. "He simply does his job," Ecclestone stated in an interview. "If he makes mistakes, he knows he made them and does not blame others or make excuses. He ensures he does not repeat those mistakes. He doesn't make them twice, he is the best driver after Max Verstappen."\n\nEcclestone also commented on McLaren's current trajectory and CEO Zak Brown's leadership. "You see how lucky these guys are, they are in the right team at the right time," he remarked, referring to the team's upward trend.\n\n### The bigger picture\nEcclestone lauded Zak Brown's talent for team building, despite a playful jab at his personal 'talent.' "I recently told him, as I have known him for a long time: 'I don't think you are very talented, but one of your talents is that you choose the right people to work for you.' He surrounds himself with the right people and keeps them together. The people at McLaren are doing a good job." This suggests that McLaren's success is not just down to individual drivers but also strong management.