Piastri Weighs In on the Red Bull vs. Ferrari Performance Debate

Oscar Piastri has joined the debate over which team currently holds the performance edge following comments from Red Bull's Isack Hadjar. While Hadjar suggested Max Verstappen could have achieved a larger margin of victory in Singapore using a Ferrari, Piastri maintains that the Red Bull RB22 is the most consistently quick car on the grid.

Why it matters:

In the high-stakes environment of the 2026 season, understanding the trade-off between cornering efficiency and straight-line speed is critical. As McLaren fights to maintain P3 in the Constructors' Championship—trailing by only seven points heading into Austin—identifying the true performance benchmark is essential for their development path.

The Details:

• Performance Trade-offs: Data indicates the Ferrari SF-26 is often the quickest through corners, but suffers significant losses on the straights due to drag or power deficits.
• Red Bull's Momentum: Since the Baku upgrades, the RB22 has become the form car of the season, securing a double podium in Azerbaijan and consecutive wins for Verstappen.
• Driver Perspectives: Lewis Hamilton noted that Red Bull has now matched the cornering speeds of other top teams while remaining three to four tenths quicker on the straights.
• Internal Dissent: While Hadjar believes the RB22 is still difficult to drive and not the absolute fastest, Charles Leclerc dismissed the notion of the Ferrari being a superior tool for Verstappen as "nonsense."

What's next:

Focus now shifts to the United States Grand Prix in Austin. McLaren is introducing a minor upgrade, though Hamilton admits it may only provide a half-tenth of improvement. The team is relying on track characteristics and potential rival mistakes to close the gap to Red Bull and secure their standing in the championship.