Oscar Piastri Rejects Ferrari Claim, Says McLaren Has Better Starts

Oscar Piastri has rejected the growing belief that Ferrari possesses the strongest race starts in Formula 1, insisting that McLaren has actually performed better off the line throughout the 2026 season. The Australian believes that advantage could become a key factor during the Canadian Grand Prix Sprint.

Piastri will start the Sprint from fourth position after qualifying behind the two Mercedes drivers and team-mate Lando Norris. Although he finished more than three tenths behind pole-sitter George Russell, the McLaren driver sees opportunities in a short-format race where track position and launch performance often prove decisive.

The battle in Montreal has highlighted how closely matched McLaren and Ferrari remain. Norris secured third on the grid, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc qualified fifth and sixth respectively. However, Piastri maintains that one area where McLaren continues to hold an advantage over Ferrari is the critical launch phase at the start of races.

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The issue has become increasingly important under Formula 1's latest power unit regulations. The removal of the MGU-H has amplified turbo lag during low-speed acceleration, forcing teams and the FIA to revise start procedures earlier in the season. As a result, clutch calibration, power delivery and mechanical traction now play an even greater role in determining launch performance.

Ferrari has often been regarded as one of the strongest teams off the line this year, regularly gaining positions during the opening metres of races. Meanwhile, Mercedes has struggled with launch consistency, frequently seeing George Russell and Kimi Antonelli lose places before the first corner. Despite Ferrari's reputation, Piastri believes McLaren's performance has been superior.

Speaking in comments reported by RacingNews365, the Australian offered a direct response to the widespread perception surrounding Ferrari's starts.

"Yeah, I mean, our starts have been better than Ferrari's all year, so we're confident in ours."

Piastri's confidence is supported by several strong opening laps delivered by McLaren this season. The team has consistently demonstrated effective traction and power application off the line, allowing its drivers to either defend positions or gain ground during the crucial run to Turn 1.

He also acknowledged Mercedes' significant progress following the introduction of a major upgrade package in Montreal. The pace shown by Russell and Antonelli during Sprint Qualifying suggested the Silver Arrows have taken a substantial step forward, potentially making them the benchmark team for the remainder of the weekend. Nevertheless, Piastri believes McLaren can still challenge through its launch performance.

"I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Mercedes gets competitive as well, but until that time comes, we'll try our best to take advantage of it."

Earlier in the day, Piastri also identified Mercedes as the standout team in Montreal. While McLaren's own upgrades have delivered positive results, he acknowledged that Mercedes appeared to gain more from its latest package. That dynamic places even greater importance on race execution and start performance if McLaren is to challenge for Sprint victory.

With Norris lining up third and Piastri fourth, McLaren enters the Sprint with a realistic opportunity to attack the Mercedes front row. If Piastri's assessment of McLaren's launch advantage proves correct, the run to Turn 1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve could become one of the defining moments of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.