Piastri Labels Red Bull as 'Class of the Field' After Major Upgrades

Oscar Piastri believes Red Bull has officially joined Mercedes as the "class of the field" following a series of impactful upgrades. After witnessing Max Verstappen's dominance in Malaysia and his relentless pressure on George Russell in Baku, the McLaren driver acknowledges that the RB22 has undergone a significant performance leap.

Why it matters:

For much of the 2026 season, Mercedes has been the undisputed benchmark. Red Bull's ability to find substantial pace this late in the year disrupts the competitive equilibrium. As the field converges, the battle for the World Championship now centers on whether Red Bull can sustain this momentum against a consistently strong Mercedes.

The Details:

• Technical Overhaul: Red Bull introduced critical updates in Baku focusing on sidepod redesign, improved floor geometry, and enhanced flow conditioning.
• Performance Spike: These changes resulted in a double podium for Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar in Azerbaijan.
• Recent Form: Verstappen's victory in Malaysia confirmed that the Baku upgrades provided a lasting performance boost across different track layouts.
• McLaren's Position: Piastri notes that while McLaren and Ferrari are trading positions, they are currently trailing the top two.

The Big Picture:

The 2026 season is seeing a shift in the power dynamic. While Mercedes has maintained the lead, Red Bull's resurgence puts immense pressure on the rest of the grid. McLaren, specifically, continues to struggle with slow-speed corners and the unique demands of street circuits, making it difficult to challenge for wins on tracks like Marina Bay.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the Singapore Grand Prix, a Sprint weekend that offers multiple opportunities for points.

• Piastri is aiming for his first podium since the Miami GP in May.
• The smooth track surface in Singapore may help McLaren, but Piastri remains cautious about their overall pace in slow corners.
• The key will be whether the RB22's new efficiency translates to the tight, twisty nature of the Marina Bay Street Circuit.