With his level head and precise driving skills, McLaren\u2019s Oscar Piastri has emerged as the F1 2025 title favorite as the season comes down to its closing grands prix. But is he the complete package?<\/p>\n
According to former F1 driver turned pundit David Coulthard, there\u2019s still one key trait that Piastri is missing, one that could put him at odds with the very nature of his team: Piastri needs to be more selfish.<\/p>\n
Why Oscar Piastri needs to be \u2018selfish\u2019<\/p>\n
McLaren Racing has made it clear that there are no favorites in its Formula 1 operation. The goal is not to back one particular driver for a shot at a title; rather, McLaren wants both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri<\/a> to feel free to race one another (respectfully) and pursue a drivers\u2019 championship without interference from the higher-ups.<\/p>\n David Coulthard thinks Piastri should throw that caution to the wind.<\/p>\n \u201cRacing drivers are selfish bastards,\u201d Coulthard explained to Australian publication Code Sports.<\/p>\n More on McLaren from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Zak Brown responds to Christian Horner return rumours after $100m agreement<\/a> \u201cThey\u2019ve got to Formula 1 because they have their elbows out and they\u2019ve fought their way into that sport.\u201d<\/p>\n Regarding the McLaren duo, he added that the two men \u201cboth want to win, and therefore there will be a point where, to be crude about it, they\u2019ll go and say \u2018bollocks to the team, I want this victory for myself.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t stage manage who\u2019s going to score the goal, whoever\u2019s got the ball is going to take a crack.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n Right now, the metaphorical ball is in Piastri\u2019s hands. Despite having two challenging race weekends in Italy and Azerbaijan, the Australian still holds tight to his lead on the drivers\u2019 championship standings, though that gap is shrinking.<\/p>\n That gap, though, could have been larger had Piastri taken Coulthard\u2019s advice and been more of a selfish driver. At Monza, for example, a slow pit stop for Norris meant he emerged on track behind Piastri. The team requested Piastri move over to return track position to the driver who held it for a majority of the race; Piastri complied.<\/p>\n Of course, the points differential between finishing second and third in a grand prix is not overly massive. But in a close battle such as this, every point matters,<\/p>\n That being said, ignoring McLaren\u2019s requests could result in frustration, argues former two-time champion Mika Hakkinen.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to be selfish, you need to think about yourself, what is best for you,\u201d he told Code.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes in the working environment it doesn\u2019t look so nice because he\u2019s, of course, a young driver and you don\u2019t have so much experience yet in Formula 1.<\/p>\n \u201cBut [Piastri] will only get better. He\u2019s a very consistent driver, which is a powerful tool, and he\u2019s a bloody quick driver.\u201d<\/p>\n As the season comes ever closer to its conclusion in Abu Dhabi, the title battle between Norris and Piastri \u2014 and even potentially between the McLaren and Red Bull\u2019s Max Verstappen \u2014 will require a shift in focus from the team to the driver. When that moment takes place remains to be seen.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Zak Brown predicts F1 teams to continue record-breaking rise<\/a>
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Oscar Piastri aura rocked as Villeneuve issues Verstappen warning<\/a><\/p>\n