Will Oscar Piastri Win a Race This Season?

Oscar Piastri remains winless after 11 rounds of the 2026 season following a brutal Hungarian Grand Prix that summed up his campaign. Having seized the lead from third on the grid, he was robbed of a likely victory by a collision with Carlos Sainz while being lapped and a subsequent gearbox failure.

Why it matters:

Piastri's drought contrasts sharply with 2025, when he already had five wins at this stage. Now seventh and 127 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, he risks falling out of contention entirely. With McLaren finally showing race-winning pace in Hungary, converting opportunities has become urgent if he is to avoid a lost season.

The details:

• Budapest breakdown: Piastri passed Charles Leclerc at Turn 1 and inherited the lead when pole-sitter Lando Norris ran wide at Turn 2. Contact with Sainz on Lap 38 while being lapped cost him crucial time, allowing Norris to jump him via the overcut.
• Mechanical failure: A gearbox issue on Lap 56 ended his race, turning a probable win into a DNF.
• Japan repeat: An ill-timed Safety Car robbed Piastri of a likely victory at Suzuka earlier this season.
• Team revival: McLaren's major upgrade delivered its strongest weekend of 2026. Norris won from pole, and both cars showed dominant pace—a dramatic shift after Mercedes and Ferrari controlled the opening 10 rounds.
• Historical hope: Piastri's maiden win came in Round 13 at Hungary in 2024. He also won at Spa and Zandvoort in late 2025, proving he can surge in the second half.

What's next:

Twelve rounds remain, including new venue Malaysia, giving Piastri time to replicate past late-season surges. But Norris admitted the Hungaroring suited McLaren's package particularly well, raising doubts about whether this form will travel. If the upgrades translate globally, Piastri should break his duck soon. Otherwise, his window is closing fast.