News Summary
- Oscar Piastri admits he has had to change fundamental aspects of his driving style to adapt to McLaren’s MCL40.
- The Australian says the smaller cars, different tyres and new power units have made 2026 more difficult than expected.
- Despite falling 94 points behind Lando Norris, Piastri believes the experience could strengthen him for 2027.
Oscar Piastri has admitted that McLaren’s difficult 2026 Formula 1 car has forced him to change fundamental aspects of his driving style, describing the adaptation process as more demanding than he expected. The Australian believes the experience could ultimately make him a stronger driver, despite a season in which he has struggled to reproduce his championship-contending form.
In an exclusive interview with the official Formula 1 website, published on November 13, Piastri explained that the MCL40 requires a driving approach significantly different from the one that suited him in previous seasons.
The conversation took place before the United States Grand Prix in Austin, although its publication comes after another difficult weekend for Piastri in São Paulo.
Piastri explains why McLaren’s MCL40 is difficult to drive
Piastri’s main challenge has been adapting his instincts to the characteristics of Formula 1’s new-generation cars.
The 2026 regulations introduced smaller chassis, narrower tyres and substantially revised power units, changing the way drivers manage grip, acceleration and cornering.
For Piastri, those changes have been particularly difficult to accommodate.
“I feel like I’ve had to change a lot of things in how I drive,” he told Formula 1.
The Australian explained that the MCL40 requires him to operate extremely close to the car’s limits, often making it difficult to recover when grip begins to disappear.
That characteristic conflicts with his traditionally smooth and precise driving style.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella previously acknowledged that Piastri sometimes needs to consciously process how to drive the car rather than relying entirely on instinct.
The problem has been visible in his results. Piastri has scored only two podium finishes in 2026, while Norris has won three Grands Prix.
McLaren’s struggles have been tougher than expected
Piastri entered 2026 after challenging for the world championship in 2025, when McLaren was among the leading teams.
However, the competitive order changed following the introduction of the new technical regulations.
Mercedes established an early advantage, while Ferrari and Red Bull subsequently improved their performance.
McLaren also struggled to maximise the potential of the MCL40, particularly during the opening part of the season.
Piastri failed to start the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix and has spent much of the campaign trying to understand the car.
The Australian currently sits seventh in the drivers’ championship, 94 points behind Norris.
An analysis published by GRANDE PRÊMIO showed that Norris gained 85 points on Piastri across the latest ten Grands Prix.
However, the Australian believes his understanding of the car has improved during the second half of the season.
Piastri believes difficult season could help him in 2027
Piastri does not believe that championship points alone provide an accurate measure of his progress.
Instead, he has increasingly focused on understanding how to adapt his driving and improve his performance from one weekend to the next.
That approach has become important during a season in which McLaren has not consistently been able to challenge for victories.
The Australian believes that overcoming the MCL40’s limitations could help him handle different car characteristics in future seasons.
He also said the experience has strengthened his relationship with McLaren’s engineers, who have worked closely with him to understand the adjustments required.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO previously reported, Piastri identified the MCL40’s difficult handling as McLaren’s biggest limitation during the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend.
His latest interview provides further insight into why the problem has affected him so significantly.
Piastri changes definition of success after 2025 title challenge
Piastri has also adjusted how he evaluates his performances.
After fighting for the championship in 2025, the Australian has been forced to accept that a successful weekend does not always involve a podium finish.
Improving his understanding of the car, adapting his technique and helping McLaren develop its package have become important measures of progress.
He remains confident that the team can return to championship contention.
McLaren has introduced several aerodynamic upgrades during the season, including a revised package for São Paulo, but the MCL40 continues to demand a difficult driving style.
Piastri believes the final races of 2026 will provide further opportunities to test his progress.
The experience could prove valuable when McLaren introduces its 2027 car, although there is no guarantee that next season’s machinery will suit him better.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the 2026 Formula 1 championship and the teams’ preparations for 2027.
