Damon Hill shares what he suspects Mark Webber is telling Oscar Piastri behind the scenes

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After years of mediocrity and showing flashes of brilliance, McLaren have once again returned to the top of the Formula 1 pyramid.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has led a revolution within the Woking-based team to take them from the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship at the beginning of the 2023 campaign to 20 points ahead of perennial champions Red Bull with seven Grand Prix to go this year.

The drivers haven’t changed in that time although it’s hard to argue that Lando Norris and especially Oscar Piastri haven’t significantly improved.

Stella will be well aware that there’s a potential problem brewing in the background at McLaren that happens at every successful team.

McLaren have built a race-winning car in one of the most competitive periods in the history of Formula 1.

However, they have two drivers who both believe they have the potential to win world championships.

Piastri will have to work with Norris until the end of the campaign with the British driver closest to current leader Max Verstappen.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

However, speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, former world champion Damon Hill isn’t sure that dynamic will last for long.

Piastri is managed by Mark Webber who knows a thing or two about having to play the role of support driver in the championship-winning team.

Sebastian Vettel was the beneficiary during their time together at Red Bull and Hill thinks Webber may be advising Piastri to make sure he doesn’t end up in a similar position.

Damon Hill shares what he suspects Mark Webber is telling Oscar Piastri about his role at McLaren

Commentator Harry Benjamin explained: “He’s got Mark Webber managing him and I honestly think Webber must have said to him at some stage, these are all the mistakes that happen.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

“These are all the things that went against me in my career and ended up me being a number two. This is the list. Don’t do any of these. We’re not taking any of that.

Hill replied: ”Don’t obey team orders because it’ll screw you in the end. That’s maybe one of the bits of advice.

“I haven’t asked Mark that yet, but I suspect he’s giving Oscar, he’s basically saying, actually, do you know what, just ignore that.”

What McLaren sources are saying about Oscar Piastri’s mentality compared to Lando Norris

The difference in ability between Piastri and Norris at this stage is negligible which speaks volumes about how quickly the young Australian has adapted to Formula 1.

Many drivers in their second season in the sport wouldn’t be capable of winning races, let alone in the manner that Piastri did in Baku.

To pull off the overtaking move he did on Charles Leclerc was outstanding but then to not relent to the constant pressure he was under says a lot about the type of driver he is.

Sources within McLaren have noticed a difference in Piastri and Norris’s mentality and that may play a crucial role in how each driver is seen going forward.

McLaren know they’re on to something special and will recognise that Piastri will not want to be a number two driver, particularly with Webber there to offer some crucial advice.

It’s up to Stella and Zak Brown to keep the pair of them happy otherwise, one McLaren driver might end up heading out of the door.