Oscar Piastri has indicated that the difficulties encountered during the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya served as a catalyst for his improved performance with McLaren. The Australian driver has faced a challenging start to the current Formula 1 season, contrasting with his strong 2025 campaign where he led the championship at the summer break with six victories.
Piastri currently sits P7 in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 92 points after 11 rounds, having secured two podium finishes: a second place in Japan and a third place in Miami. This places him 36 points behind teammate Lando Norris, who holds P5 with 128 points.
The 2026 season began with setbacks for Piastri, including a crash during the reconnaissance lap at the Australian Grand Prix and a subsequent failure to start the Chinese Grand Prix due to reliability issues. McLaren, as a team, is currently P3 in the Constructors’ Championship with 220 points.
The Spanish Grand Prix on June 14, 2026, proved particularly difficult for Piastri, who finished fifth. He crossed the line almost a minute behind race winner Lewis Hamilton and 35 seconds adrift of Lando Norris, marking his largest finish-line deficit of the season.
Piastri, who won the Spanish Grand Prix in 2025, described his 2026 Barcelona race as ‘lonely’ and was puzzled by persistent grip issues. His fifth-place finish was also aided by late retirements from Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc.
The 2026 Formula 1 regulations have introduced significant technical changes, particularly concerning power units and aerodynamics. These cars feature a 50:50 split between electrical and internal combustion power, demanding new driving techniques for energy optimisation.
Drivers must now actively manage energy deployment, regeneration, and conservation throughout a lap. New features like ‘Overtake Mode’ replacing DRS, ‘Boost Mode’ for full ERS deployment, and ‘Active Aero’ with Straight and Corner modes require constant driver input.
Piastri acknowledged the need to adapt, stating that settling into old rhythms does not work with the current generation of cars. He felt compelled to ‘stretch’ himself and try new approaches to driving.
Following Barcelona, Piastri showed improved form at the Austrian Grand Prix a week later, finishing fourth and ahead of Norris. This turnaround suggests his efforts to understand the car and new regulations are yielding results.
McLaren has established a dedicated ‘power unit performance team’ to maximise the potential of these new hybrid systems. This internal initiative works closely with engine suppliers to optimise energy usage around the track.
The team’s overall performance has seen Lando Norris secure McLaren’s first victory of the 2026 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26, 2026, just before the summer break. This indicates progress for the Woking-based outfit.
