Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, has advised Oscar Piastri to be more “selfish” in the upcoming Formula 1 season, suggesting that the young McLaren driver should not let team orders compromise his chances of success.
The big loser of 2025
Oscar Piastri, even more than Max Verstappen, emerged as the real loser of the 2025 season. After the Dutch Grand Prix, the Australian seemed the clear favorite to claim the championship, only to be overtaken by Lando Norris’s comeback and Max Verstappen’s remarkable return to contention. Ultimately, Oscar Piastri finished the season in third place, a result that felt far more bitter than sweet.
Throughout the year, Oscar Piastri also found himself, sometimes unwillingly, at the center of controversial moments regarding McLaren’s management of team orders. The papaya team’s commitment to being as “fair” as possible in all racing situations—even the most delicate—forced the Melbourne-born talent to yield second place to Norris at Monza, during the Italian Grand Prix, following a slow pit stop by the Brit. Later in Qatar, a strategic call by the team at the time of the Safety Car’s deployment likely cost him a race win.
Hill’s advice
Speaking on the Drive to Wynn podcast, 1996 world champion Damon Hill put himself in Oscar Piastri’s shoes looking ahead to the 2026 season, recommending that the young driver prioritize himself. “I think he probably felt worse than ever after Qatar,” Hill observed, recalling Piastri’s angry expression after that Grand Prix. “He couldn’t believe what had happened. He had some bad luck, it has to be said. He also lost due to some decisions made by McLaren in an attempt to be fair.”
“For example, Lando had an unlucky pit stop in Monza and was asked to give the position back,” Damon Hill continued. “It’s a significant matter, right? Giving points to a driver you are competing against for the championship. He will probably look back at that moment and say, ‘Well, maybe I won’t do that again.’ If I were him, next year I would go back and say: ‘Look, I love the team, it’s been amazing, but I have to think about myself. This is my career. If a situation arises and you ask me to give points back to my teammate, you should ask yourself: why should I do it? I can’t afford to. I did it last year and it cost me the world championship.’” – he concluded.
As McLaren heads into 2026 with two drivers capable of winning the title, Damon Hill’s warning highlights the internal friction that often defines championship-winning teams. For Oscar Piastri, the transition from a “team player” to a ruthless number one might be the final step required to move from third place to the top of the standings. Whether the Woking-based squad can manage two “Alpha” drivers without imploding remains one of the most anticipated storylines of the new season.
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