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Oscar Piastri has named Formula 1 rival Lewis Hamilton as one of the ‘most inspiring people’ as he seeks to become a champion himself. Hamilton is the most successful driver in F1 history.
Tied with Michael Schumacher on seven world championships, Hamilton is the only driver to crack 100 wins (with 104 to Schumacher’s 91). He also leads the way all-time for pole positions (105) and podiums (203).
Both Piastri and Hamilton started their F1 careers with McLaren, though the latter made a career-defining move to Mercedes ahead of the 2013 season. Piastri will almost certainly surpass Hamilton’s McLaren points tally this season (currently 820 vs 913), though the 2010 scoring system change skews those figures.
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Oscar Piastri on his admiration for Lewis Hamilton
Speaking to McLaren’s official channels, Piastri ranked Hamilton alongside NBA icons Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
He also pointed to what the 41-year-old has achieved outside racing. He was an executive producer of last year’s F1 movie, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Hamilton has also used his platform to push for greater representation within sport and campaign against injustice.
Piastri said: “Most inspiring people? I would say Michael Jordan. I would go Kobe Bryant as well. Obviously, a very similar mindset.
“Who else? Lewis and the success he’s had, how he’s gone about it, what he’s been able to achieve outside of the racetrack. It’s pretty inspiring for a lot of people, including myself.”
Speaking in the winter of 2025, Piastri said it would be ‘cool’ to see Hamilton win a title at Ferrari, if he were a spectator rather than a direct competitor.
What has Lewis Hamilton said about Oscar Piastri?
Piastri and Hamilton collided twice during the former’s rookie season and discussed both incidents afterwards.
Piastri commended Hamilton for showing him ‘respect’ despite his lack of experience. In that sense, his first impression of the legendary driver was positive.
Last year, Hamilton described Piastri as a ‘great driver’ who was delivering week-in, week-out. The Australian fought for the title for the first time and ultimately lost out to teammate Lando Norris.
Closer to the end of the season, Hamilton urged Piastri to be more ‘cut-throat’, particularly after Max Verstappen entered the fray. Both McLaren drivers consistently played the team game, even at their own expense.
In 2026, Hamilton and Piastri have scored a podium apiece as they try to chase down the dominant Mercedes team.
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