Oscar Piastri believes he is beginning to unlock more performance from McLaren’s difficult 2026 car after showing encouraging signs at Monza. Although the Australian admitted the machine has not been as easy to understand as last year’s model, he feels recent adjustments have helped him make meaningful progress. His confidence received a boost after he qualified ahead of teammate Lando Norris for the first time in six races and remained in front of the Briton for much of the race.
Despite a late-race battle between the two McLaren drivers that saw Norris complain about being forced off the circuit, Piastri insists there is no bad blood within the team. Norris ultimately won their fight with a last-lap move, while McLaren’s pit wall had earlier reminded Piastri to keep the battle under control. Piastri played down the incident, explaining that the two remain on good terms and even travelled together and played padel during the week.
The Australian also pushed back against the suggestion that his driving style alone has been responsible for his struggles with the 2026 McLaren. He acknowledged that adapting to the new car has been challenging and that several different approaches have been tested before finding useful directions. According to Piastri, Monza produced changes that may not have made the car easier to drive, but they did make him faster — an important step as he searches for consistency.
Piastri could now have another opportunity to strengthen his recovery at the new Madring circuit in Madrid. McLaren has performed strongly in high-speed sections, while the Spanish track features several fast corners that could play to the team’s strengths. Piastri’s previous victories at high-speed venues such as Saudi Arabia, Baku and Zandvoort also give him reason for optimism, although he remains cautious because the circuit’s banking, kerbs and combination of different corners will create a difficult challenge.
While Piastri has not stood on the podium since the Miami Grand Prix in May, he believes the progress made at Monza has given him a clearer understanding of what needs to improve. He expects the Madrid circuit to potentially suit McLaren better than Monza, but he is refusing to make bold predictions before seeing the actual pace of the car. With the championship battle intensifying and McLaren having won two of the last three races, Piastri’s improving form could arrive at a crucial
moment.
