Oscar Piastri, still in the early stages of his Formula 1 journey, aims to overcome setbacks from the 2025 season as he looks forward to the 2026 campaign. After a strong run, including a win at the Dutch Grand Prix, Piastri was 34 points ahead of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship, yet he ultimately finished behind both main rivals in the final standings at Abu Dhabi.
With Max Verstappen needing an extraordinary points surge in the last ten races for a fifth straight title, Piastri now eyes further progress in his fourth season, hoping to improve beyond his 2025 achievements despite evolving car regulations requiring adaptation to a new driving style.
Areas Piastri Wants to Improve: United States and Mexico City Circuits
During an interview on The Fast and The Curious, Piastri highlighted specific tracks where he feels improvement is necessary for 2026. He emphasized the challenge posed by drastic changes in car design, engines, and power units, which makes it difficult to focus solely on last year’s techniques.
He pointed out that Austin (Circuit of the Americas) and Mexico City are the key circuits where his driving “just didn’t click,” but acknowledged it may not be productive to dwell too long on those struggles, given the differences this season’s cars present. Piastri also stressed that his team is working hard to enhance decision-making and overall processes.
“I think we all are working hard to try and improve how we go about those things.”
?Oscar Piastri, McLaren Driver
Performance History at Austin and Mexico City Shows Room for Growth
Throughout his Formula 1 career, Piastri has accumulated 799 points and six pole positions, putting him on track to potentially become Australia’s most successful F1 driver if he matches his win count from 2025. However, his difficulties on low-grip tracks have been a notable weakness, particularly at the United States and Mexico City Grands Prix.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, noted the Circuit of the Americas’ low-grip surface ahead of this year’s race. Piastri’s results at both Austin and Mexico City have topped out at fifth place, including after a Sprint Race collision with teammate Lando Norris in Austin. Comparatively, he has scored fewer points in Las Vegas and Melbourne among circuits where he has completed at least three races.
Additional factors, such as Piastri’s disqualification in Las Vegas last year and adverse weather conditions at his home race in Melbourne, have also negatively affected his points tally at these events.
Why Improving North American Circuit Results Is Critical for Championship Aspirations
If Piastri aims to secure his first World Championship, enhancing his performances at the North American Grands Prix is crucial. Failing this, he will need to build a substantial lead elsewhere to compensate for the challenges these circuits pose. Given the evolving regulations and car setups for 2026, successfully adapting to these changes while addressing these specific weaknesses will be key factors in his title hopes.
With his potential move as a top candidate to replace Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin in 2027 also in discussion, Piastri’s progress this season is under close observation. His ability to bounce back from last year’s disappointments will shape both his immediate and long-term future in Formula 1.
