Former F1 Champion Discusses Oscar Piastri Regret As McLaren Fail To Deliver
Oscar Piastri raised more than a few eyebrows when he turned down the chance to race for Alpine in 2023, opting instead for a seat with McLaren. But after two races, the Australian driver may be starting to have second thoughts.
While Alpine enjoyed a strong start to the season, with both cars finishing in the points in Saudi Arabia, McLaren and Piastri have yet to register a top-10 finish. The contrasting fortunes of the two midfield teams have led former champion Damon Hill to suggest that Piastri might be regretting his decision.
However, Hill also acknowledged that being paired up with Lando Norris at McLaren could have some personal benefits for the young Australian driver. It's no secret that Norris is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, and Piastri could learn a lot from his teammate.
Still, it's hard not to wonder if Piastri is thinking about what could have been. After all, Alpine has a proven track record of developing young talent.
But it's still early days, and there's plenty of time for Piastri to get some points with McLaren. The season is a marathon, not a sprint, and there's no doubt that the young driver has the talent and the drive to succeed.
Hill explained during an interview with Motorsport.com:
“So yes, maybe he does regret that, but on the other hand, he is now competing against the highly rated Lando.
“It’s a strange thing in our sport, that as a driver you are judged on your performance against your teammate.
“You can be in a less competitive car, but all you need is to be faster than a man who some say is a future World Champion.”
Hill went on to add that Piastri will have the added pressure of his home race this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix. He continued:
“He will get a lot of attention, it will be a question of whether it distracts him.
“He does not come across to me as someone who gets easily distracted by the peripheral issues in Formula 1.
“He seems to be a very sharp and focused racer. Mark Webber will give him all the tips on how to handle his home race.”