Damon Hill Urges Oscar Piastri to Be 'More Selfish' for 2026 Title Fight

1996 World Champion Damon Hill advises Oscar Piastri to adopt a more selfish approach for the 2026 F1 season, suggesting the Australian must prioritize his own championship ambitions over team harmony. Hill's comments follow Piastri's 2025 title challenge, which faltered after he gave up a position to teammate Lando Norris. Despite the setback, Hill identified Piastri's aggressive and decisive wheel-to-wheel combat as a critical advantage over his rivals.

Why it matters:

Piastri's 2025 campaign demonstrated his speed and race craft but also a naivety that can be fatal in a title fight. Learning to balance team loyalty with ruthless self-interest is a defining trait of a World Champion. Hill's advice underscores that for Piastri to take the final step, he must be willing to make difficult, potentially unpopular, decisions to secure a championship himself.

The details:

• The Monza Cost: Piastri was leading Norris when the Briton suffered a slow pit stop. After Piastri passed him, McLaren ordered him to swap positions back, costing him valuable points to Verstappen.
• Hill's Verdict: Hill stated Piastri will likely think, "'Well, maybe I won’t do that again,'" and should return in 2026 with the mindset of, "'I have to think of myself... It’s my career.'"
• Key Strength - Decisiveness: Hill contrasted Piastri with Norris, noting the Australian's willingness to take risks in wheel-to-wheel battles, citing his confident overtake on Verstappen in Miami.
• Earning Respect: Hill believes this aggression earns Piastri more respect from Verstappen, saying, "Max recognises that Oscar will not hesitate... Lando can be a little bit more circumspect."

What's next:

The 2026 season will be a crucial test of Piastri's mental fortitude. If he can integrate Hill's advice—retaining his aggressive race craft while adding a layer of championship-caliber cunning—he could become an even more formidable contender. His dynamic with Norris at McLaren will be under intense scrutiny, as any repeat of 2025's team-order scenarios will test both the team's management and Piastri's newfound resolve.