McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has acknowledged that Oscar Piastri is struggling to adapt to the MCL40, saying the Australian is still 'thinking' while driving, which is costing him precious lap time.
Since the start of the season, Piastri has appeared uncomfortable with the new generation of F1 cars. The 2026 regulations, which reduce downforce and introduce narrower tyres, have shifted the performance landscape. His strength in high-speed corners and high-grip conditions has been neutralised. The charge-and-deploy nature of the 2026 powertrains adds another layer of complexity.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris has been more adaptable. Throughout the season, he has held a clear advantage over Piastri, except in low-grip races towards the end of the year. The gap that was once minimal has now widened. Stella emphasised the need for a change in approach.
“We need to help Oscar stop thinking while driving,” Stella said. “When you drive and think, everything slows down—decision-making, and ultimately lap times. The agenda is clear: we must help him become more in tune with the MCL40.”
Stella also highlighted the importance of better qualifying. At Monza, Piastri qualified third but a grid penalty for impeding dropped him to sixth. “We need to execute better and take more control of situations,” he added.
The first-corner incident at Monza was another example. Piastri damaged his front wing after contact with George Russell's Mercedes, yet still finished seventh. Stella admitted the team feared graining on the front tyres, but the hard compound held up. “The front wing damage cost some aero balance, but we were fortunate the hard tyres didn't grain,” he explained.
With a long season ahead, McLaren is fully committed to supporting Piastri. Stella is optimistic: “I expect we will get on top of this and see a stronger Oscar in the final part of the year.”
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