Oscar Piastri has stated he misses the pressure associated with competing for the Formula 1 drivers’ championship. The McLaren driver finished third in the 2025 season, behind teammate Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
This year, Piastri is currently seventh in the drivers’ standings with 152 points after 20 rounds.
Piastri has secured two podium finishes across 20 races in the 2026 season.
He trails Norris by 94 points in the championship.
The Australian driver acknowledged the more relaxed atmosphere this season. He noted that the stress of a championship fight signifies contention for the ultimate goal. Piastri confirmed he misses that specific feeling.
McLaren has encountered significant challenges in adapting to the 2026 technical regulations. These regulations introduced smaller cars, reduced downforce, and a near 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power.
The MCL40, McLaren’s 2026 challenger, suffers from fundamental handling characteristics. Team Principal Andrea Stella has indicated these issues cannot be fully resolved until the 2027 season.
Stella stated the car demands a significantly more aggressive driving style from its drivers.
Piastri’s driving style has been particularly affected by the MCL40’s characteristics. The car requires a more aggressive approach than his naturally smooth technique.
Lando Norris, the reigning 2025 World Champion, has also described the MCL40 as being ‘on a knife edge on every single corner.’
Slow-corner performance and straight-line speed have been identified as major hurdles for the car.
McLaren is considering changes to the wheelbase and suspension layout for the 2027 MCL41. The current car’s shorter wheelbase, chosen for weight saving, impacts floor area and underfloor potential.
Early in the 2026 season, Piastri experienced two consecutive Did Not Start (DNS) results. These occurred in Australia and China due to electrical-side power unit component issues.
Mercedes, McLaren’s power unit supplier, has faced reliability problems this season. These issues are primarily battery-related and have affected customer teams.
Mercedes Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord explained that customer teams may not extract the same power unit performance. This is due to lacking the same ‘toolset’ and intellectual property as the works team.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella noted a surprising difference in power unit performance compared to the Mercedes factory team.
The 2026 regulations saw the removal of the MGU-H. The MGU-K output increased to 470 bhp (350 kW) from 160 bhp (120 kW).
Active aerodynamics, featuring ‘Straight Mode’ and ‘Corner Mode,’ are new for 2026. An ‘Overtake Mode’ also replaces DRS, providing an electrical power boost.
The FIA implemented rule changes in April 2026 to address energy management and safety concerns. These included reducing the qualifying recharge limit to 7MJ.
The ‘super clipping’ recharge limit was increased to 350kW. This aims to reduce the need for drivers to ‘lift and coast.’
Piastri finished sixth at the recent São Paulo Grand Prix. Teammate Lando Norris secured victory at the same event.
McLaren introduced an updated front wing and aerodynamic package for the São Paulo weekend. These upgrades appeared to contribute to Norris’s win.
Piastri’s progress in São Paulo was limited by time lost in traffic. This occurred despite showing encouraging pace on soft tyres.
McLaren’s development rate has been described as reasonable. However, rival teams have made greater progress since the middle of the season.
Piastri has nine career F1 wins, six poles, and 28 podiums.
Lando Norris has two wins and five podiums in the 2026 season. He currently holds 246 points.
