Piastri tipped for fierce 2026 comeback after painful title near-miss

Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle believes Oscar Piastri will return for the 2026 season with a point to prove, driven by the painful lessons of narrowly missing the 2025 championship to teammate Lando Norris. Brundle expects the Australian to make a significant step forward after a season he described as "partly painful, partly brilliant."

Why it matters:

Piastri's response to his first genuine title fight disappointment will be a critical factor in McLaren's 2026 championship ambitions. How he processes the setback and addresses his weaknesses could define his trajectory as a top-tier driver and shape the internal dynamic within one of F1's most competitive line-ups.

The details:

• Brundle's Assessment: The former F1 driver highlighted Piastri's dominant 2025 victories as proof of his high ceiling but pointed to a clear area for improvement. "It's openly accepted that on the really low-grip circuits, he's not getting the best out of the car and out of the tyres, so he knows he's got to fix that," Brundle stated.
• A Season of Two Halves: Piastri's 2025 campaign was defined by a stark contrast. He led the championship by 34 points after a strong first 15 races but managed only three podium finishes in the final stretch, ultimately losing the title to Norris.
• The Driver's Mindset: Brundle emphasized that the painful end to the season will serve as motivation. "I'm sure it was painful in the end for him, and I think that will drive him," he said, praising Piastri as an "incredibly bright lad" and a "worker."
• Operational Challenges: Piastri himself has separately acknowledged difficulties with applying certain team rules during real-time race situations, describing some scenarios as "largely hypothetical," indicating another layer of experience gained.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Piastri's winter development and his start to the 2026 season. The expectation from analysts like Brundle is that he will channel the frustration of 2025 into a more complete and consistent performance. His ability to solve the low-grip puzzle and convert near-misses into victories will be the ultimate test of his championship mettle.