Oscar Piastri admits that the 2026 Formula 1 season has proved tougher than expected as he works to master McLaren’s MCL40 car. The Australian driver notes that adjusting his driving style to the new power units and smaller vehicles has presented significant demands throughout the year.
Adapting to the MCL40
McLaren drivers have previously described the MCL40 as a challenging machine that requires extensive effort to extract maximum performance. For Piastri, this difficulty involved retraining natural driving instincts developed over recent years. The 25-year-old explains that the required driving style differs substantially from previous models, requiring drivers to constantly operate right on the limit and occasionally beyond it.
Despite these early struggles, Piastri feels he is making headway during the second half of the season. McLaren CEO Zak Brown supported this assessment during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, stating in the Team Principals’ Press Conference that the Australian driver has regained confidence and is fully back on top of things.
Team Resilience and Future Outlook
While Piastri would have preferred fighting for titles as he did in 2025, he believes navigating these technical obstacles will benefit him in the long run. McLaren began the campaign playing catch-up after their previous year’s championship battle went down to the final race in Abu Dhabi, mirroring Red Bull’s situation.
Piastri highlights the positive atmosphere within the squad as everyone pulls together to return to the front. He notes that McLaren’s traditional strength in development and upgrades is helping them push forward, even as competitors like Mercedes raise the bar. Working closely with his engineering team has also taught them valuable lessons about extracting the best performance possible.
When evaluating personal success away from pure results, Piastri finds satisfaction in steady improvement. He explains that successful weekends during challenging periods are measured by progress rather than perfection, pointing to several strong performances this year that have brought him genuine joy.
