Piastri: 'Very easy' to spiral in either direction amid 2026 struggles

Oscar Piastri says it is "very easy" to have a "spiral in either direction" as he works through a difficult 2026 season, now a full calendar year without a win. The Australian has struggled to adapt to the new low-downforce cars, which demand constant micro-corrections and clash with his normally smooth style.

Why it matters:

Piastri led the 2025 title race for 15 rounds and won seven grands prix in the old cars. Now he sits three places and 55 points behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris, a swing that threatens to define his season.

The details:

• Piastri finished sixth at Zandvoort, 32.332s behind Norris, who won.
• McLaren boss Andrea Stella believes the problem is technical: Piastri cannot drive the 2026 car through "pure instinct."
• Piastri says qualifying at Zandvoort looked "significantly better," but race pace remains the missing piece.
• "It's not as straightforward as: 'It's just low grip.' ... It's not been the same issue that we've run into every time," he told media including RacingNews365.
• "When things aren't comfortable, you're not driving on instinct anymore, and that's why it can quite quickly unravel."

What's next:

Piastri believes McLaren now has "pretty good answers" for Zandvoort's difficulties. The challenge is catching problems quicker and adapting through a weekend. With time and experimentation, he hopes to turn the spiral upward before the gap to Norris grows further.