Exclusive: Piastri evaluates 'ruthless' Verstappen after criticism

Oscar Piastri has described Max Verstappen as a “ruthless” racer following criticism of his tactics this year.

Verstappen came under fire from some pundits for his aggression towards title rival Lando Norris in the United States and Mexico as they battled for the F1 title.

The Dutchman prevailed in the fight, winning his fourth F1 title in Las Vegas to join an exclusive list of the most successful drivers in the sport's history.

Speaking exclusively to RacingNews365, Piastri hailed Verstappen's abilities while acknowledging the merciless way the Red Bull driver conducts himself.

“You can't take anything away from Max in terms of his ability, in terms of his success, his results,” Piastri said.

“He’s definitely an incredibly ruthless racer. It's obvious from watching his career that he makes life incredibly tough and pushes the boundaries of the rules. 

“Sometimes, yes, there have been times when he's stepped over the limit.

“Hard racing is what we all come to expect. And I don't think you'll find anyone on the grid that's easy to race against.”

Verstappen has long been one of the more aggressive drivers on the grid and has often demonstrated his lack of desire to yield.

Although he poses an aggressive threat, Piastri started his consistent nature makes it easier to judge how he will treat his rivals in wheel-to-wheel combat.

“Maybe Max is firmer, but it's firmer from an already firm position,” Piastri said. “I've seen the incidents this year and just how Max has raced in general.

“Sometimes it has bordered on being a bit too far. For me, you always know what to expect, which is sometimes better than being up against someone who is unpredictable.

“The talent is undeniable. He’s a very deserving champion this year, and hopefully, we can come out the blocks strong and mount a challenge from the start.”