Piastri named 'driver of the year' by Sky pundit as Mercedes teases 2026 engine sound

Sky Sports F1 pundit Bernie Collins has named McLaren's Oscar Piastri as her driver of the 2025 season, a choice that snubs world champion Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. The selection highlights Piastri's dominant early-season form, despite his championship near-miss. Separately, Mercedes has released an audio teaser of its 2026 power unit, offering a first sonic glimpse into the next regulatory era.

Why it matters:

Collins's choice underscores a season where raw performance metrics sometimes diverged from the final championship standings. Piastri's blistering start, which built a significant points lead, left a lasting impression on analysts, even as Norris ultimately clinched the title. Meanwhile, Mercedes's audio reveal is a strategic move to build momentum and showcase progress ahead of a critical 2026 reset, where the team desperately aims to return to the front after a difficult ground-effect era.

The details:

• Piastri's Season: The Australian won four of the first six races and held a 34-point lead after the Dutch GP. However, a post-summer break slump saw him go winless for the remainder of the season, ultimately finishing third, 13 points behind teammate Norris.
• Pundit Split: Collins's selection contrasts with other Sky analysts. Former driver Karun Chandhok, along with Ted Kravitz and Simon Lazenby, all chose Max Verstappen as their driver of the year.
• Mercedes's Teaser: The released audio provides an early listen to the power unit that will compete under 2026's new technical regulations, which mandate a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power and introduce active aerodynamics.

The big picture:

The debate over 'driver of the year' often centers on consistency versus peak performance. Piastri's case is built on a stretch of arguably unmatched speed, while Verstappen's advocates point to his relentless challenge in a less competitive car. For Mercedes, the teaser is more than just sound—it's a statement of intent. After failing to win a constructors' title in the ground-effect era following eight straight championships, the team is signaling its commitment to mastering the next set of rules and challenging for wins again.

What's next:

The focus now shifts entirely to 2026. Teams are deep into development of their new chassis and power units. Mercedes will hope its engine proves to be a competitive cornerstone, while McLaren will aim to give both Piastri and Norris a car capable of maintaining their championship-winning form into the new regulatory landscape.