Oscar Piastri has concluded that Red Bull Racing made a significant performance step with its recent car update. The McLaren driver believes the upgrade has elevated the team to the level of Mercedes at the front of the grid.
Piastri points specifically to the package Red Bull introduced at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He suggests its full potential was not immediately obvious, allowing the team’s improved pace to remain somewhat unnoticed at the time.
‘I think whatever Red Bull put on their car in Baku clearly was big. I think Baku kind of went under the radar with where they qualified and Max’s engine problem.’
The update in Baku was extensive, featuring a new floor, diffuser, and revised sidepods. Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed it would be the final major development for the RB22 this season, as focus shifts to 2027.
In Azerbaijan, Max Verstappen started eighth following engine troubles and yellow flags in qualifying. Despite this, he finished the race in second place, just 0.196 seconds behind winner George Russell.
Piastri believes that without the issues in Baku, Verstappen would have pressured Russell for the entire race. The full impact of the upgrade became clear at the subsequent Grand Prix in Malaysia.
At the Sepang circuit, Verstappen secured pole position and his first victory of the 2026 season. Piastri noted that in Malaysia, Verstappen was ‘definitely the quickest car and driver combination’.
The performance gain appears linked to improved straight-line speed, an area where the RB22 had previously shown weakness. This has allowed Red Bull to challenge Mercedes, who have been the benchmark for most of the season.
Piastri’s observation comes as McLaren has experienced a dip in form, with difficult races in both Baku and Malaysia. He has acknowledged that his team is currently not in a position to fight for victories.
