Stella: Piastri still 'thinking and driving' with 2026 machinery

Andrea Stella believes Oscar Piastri's deficit to Lando Norris is down to the Australian still "thinking and driving" with the 2026 machinery, rather than racing instinctively. The McLaren boss admits the MCL40 does not feel natural for Piastri, whose strengths lie in high-speed corners and high-grip conditions — exactly what the new regulations have stripped away.

Why it matters:

Piastri's struggles have been a defining theme of McLaren's 2026 season. After matching Norris closely in 2025, he now trails clearly, affecting the constructors' battle and raising questions about how quickly even elite drivers can adapt to a fundamentally different car. The team needs both drivers firing to hold off rivals.

The details:

• Stella says Piastri needs to qualify better and stay closer to the podium, citing Monza where he was P3 in qualifying but started P6 due to impeding.
• "When you drive and think, things get slowed down" – Stella explained Piastri is still processing decisions on-track, costing him lap time.
• The 2026 rules' reduced aero load, narrower tyres, and the charge-and-deploy nature of the new powertrains have all contributed to Piastri's discomfort.
• In the latest race, Piastri suffered front wing damage after contact with George Russell, costing aero balance. McLaren feared graining, but the hard tyres held on, allowing him to finish seventh behind Franco Colapinto's Alpine.
• Stella noted the damage was "measurable" but the race was compromised by lost positions at the start regardless.

What's next:

Stella expects a stronger Piastri in the final part of the season as he becomes more in tune with the MCL40. "The agenda is very clear as to what we have to improve," he said, emphasizing better execution and letting Piastri stop thinking — and start driving.