Australian F1 winner claims Oscar Piastri will not tolerate Max Verstappen 'crap'

Alan Jones insists Oscar Piastri has the mental toughness not to allow Max Verstappen's "crap" in F1, arguing the Dutchman will get back as good as he gives.

The McLaren driver prevailed when he went head-to-head against the four-time F1 drivers' champion for the first time in Saudi Arabia, pushing the Red Bull to the outside of Turn 1 in a race-defining first lap move.

Two weeks later, at the Miami Grand Prix, Piastri again out-foxed Verstappen when fighting for the race lead, pressuring the Red Bull driver into a mistake en route to a third successive victory.

It allowed him to extend his lead in the standings over team-mate Lando Norris to 16 points - and his advantage over Verstappen to 32.

Jones, winner of the 1980 drivers' championship for Williams, maintains his compatriot has all the ingredients he needs to win the title this season.

The outspoken Australian, who also feels Norris is "weak", shared his view that whilst Verstappen is able to "bluff" much of the opposition in F1 and "hold them to ransom", he is not able to do so with Piastri.

Having build a reputation for his uncompromising and aggressive style of wheel-to-wheel racing, the 27-year-old has been effusive in his praise of the McLaren driver of late, saying it is "great to see" Piastri using his "talent" so well.

He also attributed part of the six-time grand prix winner's rise to another Australian, Mark Webber - the former Red Bull driver is Piastri's manager.

However, Jones is adamant the 2021 F2 champion will not be deterred by Verstappen's tactics, even if they work against other drivers.

"He sees a gap and goes for it, and Oscar is not going to be put off by that," the 12-time grand prix winner told The Back Page on Fox Sports.

"There’s a lot of other drivers he'll bluff and hold them to ransom a bit, but I believe Oscar has got the mental strength not to put up with that crap.

"He'll just take it for what is and give it back to him."