Oscar Piastri 'more optimistic' but McLaren not expecting to lead in Melbourne

Oscar Piastri says McLaren is leaving pre-season testing "a little bit more optimistic" about its 2026 car, but both he and team leadership concede they are unlikely to be the fastest team when the season begins in Melbourne. The reigning Constructors' champions completed the most mileage in Bahrain but believe Mercedes and Ferrari currently hold an early advantage.

Why it matters:

As the defending champions, McLaren's tempered expectations set a fascinating narrative for the start of the new regulatory era. Their honest assessment highlights the ultra-competitive nature of the current grid and suggests the development race over the 2026 season will be intense, with the early pecking order potentially shifting from race to race.

The details:

• Testing Performance: McLaren covered a massive 817 laps across the Bahrain tests, the highest mileage of any team, gathering crucial data on the new MCL40.
• Leadership's View: Team Principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown have both identified Mercedes and Ferrari as the early "teams to beat," placing McLaren in a chasing pack among the top four.
• Piastri's Assessment: The Australian driver confirmed the team's view, stating they are "probably getting a little bit more optimistic" after a smooth test where they learned "both good and bad" things.
  • He emphasized the value of trying different setups in testing to rule out bad ideas before the first race.
• Realistic Outlook: While encouraged by progress, Piastri was clear: "I wouldn’t say we’re leading the pack by any stretch of the imagination, but feel like we’re not too bad."

What's next:

All eyes turn to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park from March 6-8, Piastri's home race. The true competitive order will be revealed under qualifying and race conditions. McLaren's focus will be on maximizing their points haul from the start while unleashing a steep development curve to close any gap to the perceived front-runners as the long 2026 season unfolds.