A feeling he wants back
Oscar Piastri says he misses the pressure of fighting for the Formula 1 drivers’ championship. After challenging McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in 2025 and finishing third, his 2026 campaign under the new regulations has centred on understanding a difficult car and working back towards the front.
Asked in a recent interview whether being outside the title fight was a setback, Piastri offered a mixed answer. He wants to contest the championship every year and acknowledges that this season has been more relaxed. Yet the stress of a title battle is a feeling he wants, because it means he is competing for his ultimate goal.
After São Paulo, the official standings place Piastri seventh on 152 points and Norris sixth on 246, a gap of 94.
From power-unit operation to the car itself
Piastri said the team knew from the opening races that the new cars would feel very different. Much of its initial attention went into operating the power unit and extracting its performance. The smaller cars and reduced downforce also changed the driving experience, but the power system dominated the early work.
After the first few events and adjustments to some rules, that operation became more normal and McLaren examined the car itself in greater depth. Piastri said it had been difficult to drive early on and remained difficult. Understanding what needed changing took time, and making those changes proved challenging too.
Brazil provided a tangible gain. Piastri started tenth and finished sixth in changing conditions, scoring eight points for McLaren. He believes the team is making gradual progress and must keep working on those improvements.
