Damon Hill questions whether Oscar Piastri regrets selecting McLaren over Alpine

Damon Hill, the former Formula 1 World Champion, has raised questions about whether Australian driver Oscar Piastri regrets his decision to choose McLaren over Alpine. Piastri was initially signed up as Fernando Alonso’s replacement at Alpine, but it later transpired that he had already signed a deal with McLaren. Although McLaren won a case with the Contract Recognition Board to take on his services, the team has struggled with its MCL60 car at the start of the 2023 season. In contrast, Alpine has been performing more competitively and consistently in the midfield.

Hill suggests that Piastri may regret his decision, but the young driver now has Lando Norris, one of the highest-rated drivers in Formula 1, as his yardstick for performance. McLaren has already made significant changes behind the scenes, with technical director James Key leaving the team and a new technical directorship team being appointed. Piastri will compete in his first Australian Grand Prix as a Formula 1 driver next weekend, and Hill has backed him to handle the extra scrutiny, aided by his manager Mark Webber’s advice on how to cope with racing in front of a home crowd.