Oscar Piastri reveals two big problems as rain set to lash Canadian GP

Oscar Piastri has flagged dual concerns ahead of a rain-soaked Canadian Grand Prix, calling the conditions "a large element of the unknown" for the new generation of cars.

The McLaren driver will start fourth on the grid at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, alongside teammate Lando Norris, with an all-Mercedes front row led by George Russell. But the main worry is the near-certain threat of persistent rain and how it will expose weaknesses in both the 50-50 power units and Pirelli's intermediate tyres.

Why it matters:

Rain could turn Sunday into a lottery, especially for teams like McLaren who have minimal wet-weather running with these cars. Piastri's comments highlight a critical gap in preparation that could scramble the order and create unexpected drama at a pivotal point in the season.

The details:

• Piastri admitted he has never driven the 2026-spec car in the rain: "It's going to be tough. We've not really driven these cars in the rain. Full stop."
• He noted that power units struggle with inconsistency, which is "basically impossible" to avoid in wet conditions: "There's going to be a few issues with that, most likely up and down the grid."
• Asked whether tyres or the power unit were the bigger concern, Piastri replied: "Everything!" He added that while power unit issues primarily cost lap time, tyres carry a "significantly higher" risk factor if they can't be brought into the operating window.
• McLaren conducted extensive wet-weather preparation in Miami, where rain was forecast but missed the race. The conclusion? "We don't know what's going to happen," Piastri said.

What's next:

With hundreds of engineers across the grid unable to predict how the cars will behave, Sunday's race promises to be a test of adaptability rather than pure pace. Piastri summed it up: "There is definitely going to be a large element of the unknown."