The director of the McLaren team, Andrea Stella, has stated that the team needs to help Oscar Piastri improve his adaptation to the Formula 1 cars of 2026. According to Stella, the current performance discrepancy with Lando Norris is due to Piastri still “thinking and driving” with last year’s specifications.
Piastri’s struggles with the new generation of cars have become evident throughout the season. While he has shown exceptional skills in high-speed and high-grip situations, the new regulations have caused a decrease in aerodynamic downforce and a change in tire characteristics, which has altered his comfort behind the wheel.
Stella explained that it is essential for Piastri to avoid overthinking on track. “When we drive and think at the same time, we can lose time in decision-making,” he stated, indicating that a more natural adjustment between the driver and the MCL40 will help improve his lap times.
Recently, Piastri suffered damage to his front wing that affected the aerodynamic balance, but the team managed to ensure that the hard rubber tire did not suffer wear. Despite this, he finished seventh after being unable to overtake Franco Colapinto’s Alpine in the key moments of the race.
“The damage to the wing cost certain aspects of aerodynamic balance. This can be measured,” Stella added. The McLaren director also acknowledged that, even without the vehicle issues, the race would have been complicated for Piastri due to the starting position he began with.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
