Oscar Piastri, the McLaren driver, enters the 2026 season facing critical changes in regulations that could impact his ability to surpass teammate Lando Norris and reigning champion Max Verstappen. Despite leading the 2025 championship for over half the year, Piastri ended the campaign third, aware that McLaren’s dominance might not be as strong with significant car updates for the new season’s start.
Expert Opinions Highlight Piastri’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Gary Anderson praised aspects of Piastri’s car during early testing in Barcelona, though Mercedes currently seems to lead the pack. For Piastri, maintaining the rapid growth he has demonstrated since his 2023 debut remains essential. Reflecting on last season, former driver and commentator Martin Brundle identified specific areas Piastri must improve to secure a world title in 2026.
Martin Brundle Identifies Low-Grip Tracks as Piastri’s Critical Area for Improvement
During an interview on The F1 Show, Brundle expressed confidence in Piastri’s return with renewed determination. He explained that while Piastri displayed brilliance throughout 2025, his performance on low-grip circuits was suboptimal, limiting his ability to maximize both car and tire performance.
Brundle said,
“Yeah, I think he’ll come back with a vengeance, to be honest. It was partly painful, partly brilliant for him last year. He learned a lot.”
He added,
“I think that it’s openly accepted that on the really low grip circuits, he’s not getting the best out of a car and out of the tyre. So, he knows he’s got to fix that. But I mean, some of the victories he’s had were so dominant, so impressive. I think he’ll take a lot from that.”
Brundle further reflected on the painful end to Piastri’s campaign but emphasized his intelligence and competitiveness as drivers’ key traits. He stated,
“He’s a worker, and I think he’ll come back having made a big step forward.”
—Martin Brundle, Former F1 Driver and Commentator
Piastri’s Losses and Gains Throughout the 2025 Season
Piastri lost important points in races at Baku, Singapore, and Sao Paulo, which allowed Norris and Verstappen to close the gap and ultimately overtake him in the standings. However, his strong recovery in Qatar, despite McLaren’s strategic shortcomings, demonstrated progress in addressing previous weaknesses as the season concluded.
Insights from the Barcelona Shakedown and Upcoming Bahrain Tests
The recent three-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya gave preliminary insights into McLaren’s and Piastri’s competitiveness for 2026. Further testing in Bahrain will clarify their standing as the new aerodynamic and power deployment systems come into play, areas where Piastri’s reputation for quick learning and adaptability could provide an edge.
Reflecting on his experience with the updated MCL40, Piastri said,
“I’m starting to feel what the car is really like, and we’ve already tried a variety of configurations and settings to understand how it behaves for a race weekend.”
He continued,
“Overall, the priority this week has been clear: understand the car and improve it. There’s still plenty to learn, especially on the power unit side.”
Working with Honda Performance Development (HPP), McLaren aims to extract maximum power unit performance, guided by feedback from both Piastri and Norris. Piastri also noted,
“We’ve also identified some differences from last year across the chassis, with the car carrying more downforce, so getting used to that balance has been a key focus.”
—Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Driver
Looking Ahead: What Piastri Must Do to Secure the 2026 Championship
Oscar Piastri’s ability to overcome challenges on low-grip circuits and adapt effectively to the new technical regulations will be crucial for his championship ambitions. With Martin Brundle emphasizing Piastri’s determination and intelligence, the Australian driver’s continued development appears promising. Upcoming testing sessions and the evolving season will reveal whether McLaren can close the gap to Mercedes and Red Bull, and if Piastri can convert his potential and speed into consistent victories throughout 2026.
