McLaren: Piastri 'paid the price' for missing Hungarian GP practice

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says Oscar Piastri paid a "bit of a price" for missing first practice in Hungary after rookie Leonardo Fornaroli took his seat. Stella argues the lost track time hurt Piastri more than running without upgrades in FP2, as the Australian struggled to adapt to a Hungaroring surface offering far less grip than expected.

Why it matters:

With the Hungaroring proving treacherous and low on grip this weekend, every lap mattered. Teams expected the high-grip levels of previous years, but shifting tarmac and wind turned the circuit into a gamble through every corner. For Piastri, losing crucial FP1 seat time put him on the back foot in a weekend where getting up to speed was everything.

The details:

• Rookie run: Fornaroli replaced Piastri in FP1 to satisfy the mandatory rookie practice requirement.
• Low-grip surprise: The paddock was caught off guard by slippery tarmac and windy conditions, which Stella called a "bet in every single corner" compared to last year's super-high grip.
• Upgrades delayed: Piastri ran without McLaren's new parts in FP2, receiving them only on Saturday morning, though Stella insisted this was not the cause of his fifth-place qualifying.
• Grid shuffle: Piastri starts third after penalties for Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, but McLaren points to lost track time rather than grid position.

What's next:

Piastri must maximize his second-row start to keep pace with teammate Lando Norris and protect McLaren's championship ambitions. With the Hungaroring proving unpredictable, the opening laps could decide whether he overcomes his disrupted Friday to challenge for a podium. The team will also be watching to see if the Saturday upgrades deliver under race conditions.