Damon Hill Urges Oscar Piastri to Be Ruthless at McLaren in 2026
Citing team-first calls plus late-season setbacks in 2025 that undermined the Australian’s bid, the 1996 champion urges a more self‑protective stance.
Overview
- Piastri was advised by Hill on the Drive to Wynn podcast to prioritize his own championship interests at McLaren next season.
- Hill’s remarks follow a 2025 campaign in which McLaren emphasized equal opportunities for Piastri and Lando Norris.
- At Monza, McLaren instructed Piastri to hand back second place to Norris after a slow pit stop, a call Hill highlighted as costly.
- Piastri’s season faded from a 34-point lead by August to third overall behind champion Norris and Max Verstappen.
- Qatar was a major setback, with one outlet reporting a disqualification for excessive plank wear and separate criticism of strategy choices under the Safety Car.