Piastri admits missing title fight stress in muted McLaren season

Oscar Piastri has said he is missing the stress of fighting for the drivers' championship this season, which has seen him sit seventh in the standings, 96 points behind team-mate Lando Norris. Last year Piastri finished third behind Norris and Max Verstappen, but he has struggled to adapt to the new 2026 regulations and has yet to win a race.

Asked whether it was a setback not to be in the title fight, Piastri gave a nuanced answer. He said he wants to be in contention every year, and that while the pressure is absent, it is the feeling he wants because it means fighting for his goal. He added that there are some things that are easier when not in a championship.

Piastri said the car has proved difficult to drive, with the early focus falling on the power unit before attention turned to the chassis. He said the team has been making slow progress in understanding and changing it.