Former World Champion Damon Hill has urged Oscar Piastri to "think of himself" after the Australian missed out in 2025's thrilling championship fight.

Piastri went into the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a chance to win a maiden world title, but the three-way fight saw teammate Lando Norris come away with the championship, finishing just two points clear of Max Verstappen.

A 34-point gap had opened up between Piastri and Norris after the Dutch Grand Prix, but a drop in form while his two rivals rallied saw the title fight flip in an instant.

But McLaren’s decision to maintain a neutral stance between its drivers also led to contentious moments, particularly when Piastri was asked to let Norris through during a slow pit stop at the Italian Grand Prix.

Oscar Piastri finished P3 in the drivers' standings with 410 points, aided by seven race wins - Photo: Race Pictures

“I think he probably felt the worst he was going to feel after Qatar. I think he could not believe what had happened there," Hill explained on the Driver to Wynn podcast.

“He’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, 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?

“He will probably look at that and go, ‘Well, maybe I won’t do that again.’"

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Piastri must fend for himself

More contentious decisions throughout the year from McLaren that occurred, leading to criticism of their papaya rules once again.

After just missing out on his first world title, Hill has given Piastri some advice as to what the 24-year-old must do in 2026: “Next year, if I were him, I’d be coming back, and saying, ‘Listen, I love the team, and it’s been great, but I have to think of myself. 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.'”

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