Oscar Piastri Admits He Misses Title Fight Pressure as McLaren Struggles in 2026

Oscar Piastri admits he misses the pressure of a Formula 1 title fight as McLaren's 2026 slump leaves him without a championship challenge. Twelve months after pushing Lando Norris to the final race in Abu Dhabi, Piastri is winless and without a podium in 16 races, with McLaren fourth in the constructors' standings.

Why it matters:

Piastri's comments highlight how quickly F1's pecking order can shift under new technical rules. McLaren, constructors' champions in 2024 and 2025, is now 254 points behind Mercedes and fighting for pride rather than the ultimate prize.

The details:

• Piastri said there is "not quite the same stress" as last year, but added: "That stress that you have in a championship fight is the feeling you want... I am missing that feeling this year for sure."
• His 2026 campaign contrasts sharply with his breakthrough season, when he led the standings for longer than any driver before fading late and finishing 13 points adrift, also behind Max Verstappen.
• Norris won in Brazil—his third victory of the year—but Piastri insists the MCL40 remains unpredictable: "It wasn't that easy to drive, and it's still not been easy to drive, even now."

What's next:

With three rounds left, McLaren trails Red Bull by 17 points in the constructors' standings. Piastri's focus is beating Red Bull: "It's not going to be an easy task for sure, but I think it's possible." The remaining races will test whether McLaren's late-season upgrade delivers consistent performance—and whether Piastri can rediscover the fight he craves.