Piastri: McLaren has 'deficit everywhere' against Ferrari and Mercedes

Oscar Piastri says McLaren must continue capitalizing on rivals' misfortunes because the MCL40 is carrying a performance deficit against Ferrari and Mercedes in every area. With the team lacking a clear strength and struggling for pace in low and medium-speed corners, the defending champions are under pressure to find upgrades before their title hopes fade.

Why it matters:

McLaren is learning that defending a championship is harder than winning one. Piastri's blunt admission that the team has "a bit of a deficit everywhere" reveals a car without a single dominant trait, leaving the Woking squad dependent on circumstance rather than raw speed. In a season where Ferrari and Mercedes have found consistent form, that is a dangerous position for a team that swept both 2025 titles.

The details:

• Montreal and Monaco exposed the MCL40's struggles in low-speed sections, and team principal Andrea Stella confirmed the car falls short in low and medium-speed performance despite occasional flashes of competitiveness.
• Lando Norris's Barcelona podium was fortuitous, coming only after Kimi Antonelli's late retirement, while Piastri limped home 35 seconds behind his teammate due to issues he claims to have now understood.
• McLaren is bringing an experimental upside-down rear wing to Austria as part of a wider upgrade push to close the gap to the frontrunners.

What's next:

Piastri has tempered expectations for Austria, noting Ferrari made a clear step in Barcelona while Red Bull is expected to bring significant updates. He insists McLaren must develop faster than its rivals to avoid handing over both championships, warning that performing on merit this weekend "is going to be a bit of a stretch."