Piastri Opens Up on "More Lows Than Highs" in 2026 Season Struggles

Oscar Piastri says his 2026 season has delivered "more lows than highs" as the McLaren driver grapples with inconsistent form and the challenges of Formula 1's new regulations. Sitting sixth in the drivers' standings at the halfway point, 11 points behind teammate Lando Norris, the Australian has found the new-generation machinery a difficult fit compared to the car that carried him to last year's title decider.

Why it matters:

Piastri's slump represents more than a personal dry spell. McLaren entered the year as a genuine threat but has watched rivals surge ahead with upgrades while struggling to unlock consistent pace. With the 2026 cars rewarding an aggressive, loose-handling approach that team principal Andrea Stella admits comes more naturally to Norris, Piastri's inability to adapt risks widening the internal gap at a crucial development phase.

The details:

• Piastri sits sixth on 92 points, trailing Norris by 11 points despite holding a 5-4 grand prix head-to-head advantage.
• The Australian pinpointed Suzuka and Miami as the team's only truly competitive weekends, calling them "the exception rather than the baseline" as rivals out-developed McLaren.
• Stella explained the new machinery demands drivers "attack the car" and accept sliding, a style that suits Norris but forces Piastri to adjust his naturally cleaner inputs.
• Piastri acknowledged the car has been tricky to drive all season but said the last few rounds have been particularly difficult, with the team now shifting focus from power unit management to resolving balance issues.

What's next:

McLaren brings a fresh upgrade package to Hungary hoping to build on stronger-than-expected race pace at Spa. Piastri will sit out first practice to allow reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli track time, but the priority is finding a stable platform that allows him to recapture the form that carried him to last year's championship decider.