Oscar Piastri: “Maybe He [Lewis Hamilton] Just Doesn’t Like Me”

Oscar Piastri is one of the most talented drivers on the grid and in a few years, it will become knowledge if it isn’t already. Since his debut, or perhaps mid-way through his debut, he started showing all signs of becoming a future world champion. However, it will be a few years before he does achieve the feat. Until then, he can learn from a few he’s driving alongside at the moment. However, out of the three world champions on the current grid, Piastri has had the most interaction with Lewis Hamilton and he believes the 7x champion doesn’t like him.

The Mercedes man and Piastri have had a coming together on a couple of occasions already. Despite Hamilton being the one with the wealth of experience, it was never the rookie who was at fault during these clashes and Hamilton proved it when he apologized to the Australian driver after the Italian GP.

So while discussing wheel-to-wheel racing with the likes of Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton with Tom Clarkson on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Piastri made an honest admission. When asked to highlight the difference between the world champions and the others, Piastri recalled his misery with Hamilton. “I mean I’ve crashed with Lewis a couple of times. I feel both of them weren’t particularly my fault,” he said and jokingly added, “I don’t know, maybe he just doesn’t like me.”

The McLaren was especially unfortunate in Vegas where his race was effectively ruined after he clashed with Hamilton. However, that is the nature of F1. Bad things happen, and you accept and you move on and focus on the next overtake, next race weekend, and next year. The idea is to focus on the bigger picture.

Speaking of the bigger picture and next year, with Hamilton leaving Mercedes, Peter Windsor has projected a similar career trajectory for Piastri as Hamilton.

Peter Windsor wants to put Oscar Piastri in Lewis Hamilton’s seat

Hamilton’s replacement has been one of the hottest topics of discussion in the F1 circles. Many have put various names in contention. However, when Peter Windsor was asked to give his recommendation, he only had Piastri’s name in mind. He believes the youngster alongside George Russell will make a formidable team. A team that will lead Mercedes into their future.

Windsor suggested, “I suddenly realized what I would do, what would try to do, and I would try to put Oscar Piastri in there. Because I think he would be, I’d get him on a four-five year deal and I think Russell-Piastri would be a really good team.”

He even addressed Piastri’s valid contract till the end of 2026. However, the former boss even came up with a solution. “But he has a mega contract with McLaren. Of course, he is, but there is a price for everything, and we’ve seen changes take place with payments before. Assuming Oscar is happy to go with it, let’s say for a number, $50 million, that Mercedes paid McLaren for the services of Oscar Piastri to release him from that McLaren contract,” he added.

Read More: Oscar Piastri ‘Frustrated’ with Lewis Hamilton as McLaren’s Lack of Pace Gets Evident at Saudi Arabia

Do you see this scenario coming to fruition? Or do you have someone else in mind? With the majority of driver contracts expiring at the end of 2024, no one can predict how the 2025 grid will look like. It will be exciting to see another major change in the lineups before the next season begins.