In the cutthroat world of Formula 1, even the smallest decisions can cost you everything. Oscar Piastri knows this all too well. After dominating much of the 2025 season, he watched his championship dreams slip away as teammate Lando Norris claimed the ultimate prize. But here's where it gets controversial: was McLaren's commitment to fairness ultimately Piastri's downfall?
Piastri, a driver who once held a commanding 34-point lead after the Dutch Grand Prix, found himself in a three-way battle for the title in Abu Dhabi alongside Norris and Max Verstappen. Despite his early dominance, a late-season slump and a series of team decisions prioritizing fairness over individual advantage left him settling for third place.
And this is the part most people miss: while McLaren's approach was commendable in theory, it led to moments that left fans and experts questioning its practicality. Take Monza, for instance, where Piastri was instructed to let Norris pass after a botched pit stop. It was a move that, while fair, potentially cost Piastri crucial points in the championship race.
Enter 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, who believes Piastri needs to adopt a more self-centered mindset for 2026. On the Drive to Wynn podcast, Hill suggested that Piastri should respectfully prioritize his own career, stating, “Next year, if I was him, I’d be coming back and saying, ‘Listen, I love the team, but I have to think of myself. It’s my career.’”
Hill’s point is clear: in a sport as competitive as F1, personal ambition must sometimes outweigh team harmony. Piastri himself acknowledged the lessons learned from 2025, telling PlanetF1.com and other media outlets, “I’ve learned a hell of a lot about myself as a race car driver, myself as a person.”
While Piastri graciously acknowledged Norris as a deserving champion, the question lingers: would a more assertive approach have changed the outcome? Is fairness in F1 a luxury, or a necessity?
Piastri’s 2025 campaign was far from a failure. With multiple pole positions, wins, and podiums, he proved his mettle as a top-tier driver. Yet, the season’s end leaves a lingering “what if?” that will undoubtedly fuel his fire for 2026.
What do you think? Should Piastri have prioritized himself over team fairness? Or is McLaren’s approach the right way to handle a title fight? Let us know in the comments below!
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Additional reporting by Mat Coch
