Attention will be on how Oscar Piastri approaches future team orders following several instances in 2025 where McLaren‘s strategy appeared to favour his teammate, Lando Norris.
Following some questionable late-season strategy calls from McLaren, Formula 1 champion Damon Hill has urged Piastri to address his role within the team ahead of next season to ensure his interests are better represented.
Despite leading the drivers’ championship for the majority of the year, a challenging six-race slump in the final third of the season saw Piastri lose his advantage.
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Lando Norris, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella and Oscar Piastri during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. Getty
The 24-year-old finished third in the overall standings after being leapfrogged by Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Piastri closed out his campaign 13 points shy of new world champion Norris, who sealed the title at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
While Piastri achieved significant success in 2025 — including seven grand prix wins, 16 podium appearances, and six pole positions — the season ended on a mixed note amid rumours of internal friction.
Several times during the season, McLaren’s race strategies appeared to prioritise Norris, casting doubt on the team’s public commitment to their “papaya rules” principles.
Asked on the Drive to Wynn podcast about Piastri’s mindset following the season, Hill reflected on the emotional toll the hard-fought championship battle likely took on the young driver.
Hill identified the penultimate round in Qatar as the likely low point for Piastri.
Second-place finisher Oscar Piastri during the drivers’ press conference following the Qatar Grand Prix. Clive Rose via Getty Images
“I think he could not believe what happened there,” he said.
“[Piastri’s] had some misfortune, you have to say, and he’s lost out because of some decisions with McLaren trying to be fair.
“For example, Lando had a bad pit stop at Monza, and he was asked to kind of give the place back and wow.
“I mean, that’s a big thing to do, isn’t it? To give points away to a guy you could be fighting for the world championship for.
“And he will probably look at that and go, ‘Well, maybe I won’t do that again’.”
Oscar Piastri is interviewed by Sky Sports broadcaster Damon Hill. Andy Hone/LAT Images
Hill’s advice for the upcoming season is for Piastri to prioritise his personal career goals over team diplomacy. He argued that the Melburnian needs to define stricter boundaries with McLaren to avoid a repeat of the previous campaign.
“Next year, if I were him, I’d be coming back, and I’d say, ‘Listen, I love the team, and it’s been great, but I have to think of myself, and it’s my career. If the situation arises and you’re asking me to return points to my teammate, you have to ask yourself, why would I do that? I can’t afford to do that. I did it last year, and it could have cost me the world championship’,” Hill said.
The 2026 season will begin with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.