Trulli gives outside bet for F1 World Championship 'Russell, if...'

In about a month and a half, Formula 1 will start again. After testing in Bahrain, the Bahrain Grand Prix will be held. Like last season, drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will appear at the start as expected. But which driver will win? Which driver to watch out for? Former driver Jarno Trulli explains.

"The unexpected outsider for the world championship could be George Russell if Mercedes become competitive again and can challenge Red Bull," the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "As a surprise, I say Oscar Piastri because he has a potentially competitive McLaren and can further develop his talent after a very positive debut season."

"The Australian has shown really good qualities," Trulli continued. "He is fast and quite consistent. To judge him even better, you should see him fight with the best. The confrontation in the team with a driver who has already proven himself in the form of Lando Norris will certainly be exciting," the former Formula 1 driver concluded.

In his first season in the premier class of motorsport, Piastri finished ninth. The McLaren driver received high praise for on-track battles with Verstappen and Norris, among others. Can the Australian fight big names like Hamilton and Verstappen again in 2024?