McLaren’s Stella: Piastri Still “Thinking and Driving” with 2026 F1 Machinery
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes Oscar Piastri’s current performance deficit to teammate Lando Norris stems from the Australian driver still “thinking and driving” rather than operating instinctively with the 2026 Formula 1 regulations. The new technical framework has reduced aerodynamic output and introduced narrower tyres, significantly lowering overall grip levels and altering the driving demands compared to previous seasons.
Piastri’s Strengths Clash with 2026 Car Characteristics
Over the previous two seasons, Piastri established his strengths in carrying speed through high-speed corners and excelling in high-grip conditions. The 2026 rule changes have stripped away much of that grip, moving the MCL40 outside Piastri’s natural comfort zone. Combined with the charge-and-deploy nature of the new powertrains, this shift has contributed to a challenging campaign for the Melbourne-born driver.
While Piastri and Norris were closely matched throughout 2025—aside from lower-grip events during the final flyaway races—Norris has held a clear advantage in the current season.
Stella Targets Qualifying and Car-Driver Harmony
Stella emphasized that improvement hinges on McLaren helping Piastri stop “thinking” on track, acknowledging that driving the MCL40 does not feel like a natural process for the 23-year-old.
“I think with Oscar we need to qualify better, stay closer to the podium finish positions from the start,” Stella began. “In Monza he was P3 at the end of qualifying but somehow we managed to start P6 for the impeding. So there are several circumstances of which we need to take more control.
“We need to execute better and then at the same time we need to get more in tune between Oscar and the MCL40 because still Oscar is driving and thinking. And when you drive and think, things get slowed down; slower as a driver in terms of deciding what to do and ultimately you are slower in terms of lap times.
“So I think the agenda is very clear as to what we have to improve and I expect, like I always say, that we will get on top of that and we will see a stronger Oscar in the final part [of the year].”
Front Wing Damage Compromises Piastri’s Race
Piastri’s race was further complicated by front wing damage sustained in the opening corner after contact with George Russell’s Mercedes. The collision left a diveplane flapping against the endplate, costing measurable aerodynamic balance.
“The front wing damage cost Oscar a few units of aero balance,” Stella added. “So definitely very measurable.
“We were actually quite worried that this would have caused a lot of graining because the front end lost a lot of downforce. As a matter of fact, and thankfully, the hard tyres were hard and resistant enough not to open up the graining so Oscar could stay in the race.
“When it comes to Oscar, I think the race was definitely compromised by not only the damage on the car but having lost further positions at the start. So I think even without the damage, it would have been a difficult race to get more out of the situation in which he found himself.”
Despite the damage, the hard compound tyre proved durable enough to prevent graining, eliminating the need for a front wing change. Piastri managed a pass on Arvid Lindblad after his pit stop but ultimately finished seventh, trapped behind Franco Colapinto’s Alpine.
