Palmer: Piastri Needs 'Winter Reset' After Disappointing 2026

Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes Oscar Piastri may need a winter reset after a difficult 2026 campaign that has seen the Australian slip well behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Piastri heads into this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix seventh in the standings with 120 points, while Norris sits fourth with 186.

Why it matters:

Piastri was a title contender in 2025 and is a former F3 and F2 champion, so his current slump raises questions about his trajectory. With McLaren not fighting for the championship this year, the pressure is off, but a prolonged downturn could affect his long-term standing within the team.

The details:

• Palmer, speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, said Piastri could be grateful McLaren isn't in a title fight, because otherwise he'd be criticized like George Russell. "He's capitulating this season."
• "Oscar had one half of a season last year where he looked like a champion... But when you look through his career, he's had three and a half years. Half a year was amazing. For three years he was basically second driver to Lando."
• Palmer also noted Piastri isn't as comfortable sliding the car as Norris, and last year's cars suited him more until low-grip tracks exposed limitations in Austin and Mexico.
• "He's just a driver who will be hoping for a run of form, but also maybe for next winter and a bit of a reset right now because every weekend just feels like a real struggle for him."

What's next:

Piastri will aim to turn things around at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a track where he has shown promise before. But Palmer's words suggest that a fundamental reset may be needed for the Australian to regain the form that made him a championship contender.