Hill Urges Piastri to Ditch 'Nice Guy' Act for 2026 Title Bid
Damon Hill urges Oscar Piastri to shed his "good soldier" mentality for his 2026 title bid. The 1996 champion believes Piastri's accommodating nature towards Lando Norris in 2024 cost him and that he must now be ruthless to win a championship.
1996 F1 champion Damon Hill believes Oscar Piastri's "good soldier" approach at McLaren cost him a shot at the 2024 title. Hill argues that Piastri was too accommodating to teammate Lando Norris, sacrificing his own results for the team's "fair play" policy. The advice for the 2026 season is simple: it's time for the Australian to get ruthless and prioritize his own championship ambitions.
Why it matters:
In a sport where milliseconds and points decide championships, a driver's mindset is as critical as their car's performance. Hill's comments highlight the brutal reality of F1: team harmony is valuable, but titles are won by individuals willing to seize every opportunity, even at a teammate's expense. How McLaren manages this internal dynamic with its two top-tier drivers will be a defining factor in their success under the new 2026 regulations.
The details:
- The most glaring example of Piastri's accommodating nature came at the Italian Grand Prix. After Norris suffered a botched pit stop, Piastri was strategically asked to hand the position back, effectively giving points to a direct title rival.
- Hill was incredulous about the Monza order, stating on the Drive To Wynn podcast: "To give points away to a guy you could be fighting for the world championship? Wow, that’s quite a big thing to do, isn’t it?"
- The 1996 champion believes Piastri paid the price for his selflessness, noting, "He had some misfortune, you have to say, and he’s lost out because of some decisions with McLaren trying to be fair."
- Hill's core message for 2026 is a shift in mentality. He advises Piastri to tell the team: "‘I have to think of myself’... ‘I can’t afford to do that. I did it last year. That could have cost me the world championship’.”
What's next:
The 2026 regulation reset represents a clean slate, and Hill's advice sets the stage for a potential shift in the McLaren dynamic. If Piastri adopts a more ruthless approach, fans can expect a fiercer internal battle, which could either propel the team to new heights or create friction. For Piastri, embracing this "killer instinct" may be the final piece needed to transform his immense talent into a World Championship.