Piastri says 2025 title collapse unrelated to 2026 McLaren struggles

Oscar Piastri does not believe his collapse in the 2025 title race is linked to his difficulties in the 2026 season. He had led the championship by 34 points over team-mate Lando Norris after the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, but a run of crashes, incidents and disqualifications followed, and Norris ultimately won the title on 423 points, with Piastri third on 410.

In 2026, Piastri has claimed just two podium finishes and has not finished in the top three since the Miami Grand Prix. McLaren boss Andrea Stella has linked his struggles to difficulty adapting to the new way the 2026 cars must be driven, with less downforce requiring constant micro-corrections that sit at odds with Piastri's smooth style.

Piastri said he would use the off-season to reset and rethink, adding that he is "under no illusions" about the scale of the challenge. He told the Up to Speed podcast that he does not expect the problems to solve themselves without considerable effort.