Oscar Piastri believes he is beginning to make meaningful progress with McLaren’s challenging 2026 car, despite admitting that adapting to the machine has been far from straightforward. The Australian showed encouraging signs at Monza, qualifying ahead of Lando Norris for the first time in six Grands Prix and running ahead of his teammate for much of the race. Although Norris eventually overtook him on the final lap, Piastri viewed the weekend as a positive step in his efforts to rediscover his strongest form.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the Italian Grand Prix was evidence that Piastri was moving back in the right direction. Piastri agreed, explaining that the team had begun identifying solutions to some of the difficulties he has faced with the 2026 car. He rejected the idea that his driving style alone was responsible for his struggles, pointing out that every driver must adapt their approach when regulations and cars change. According to Piastri, several experiments at Monza may not have made the car easier to drive, but they did make him faster.
The intense battle between the two McLaren drivers at Monza also attracted attention after Norris was forced onto the grass during an attempt to defend against Piastri. Norris initially complained that he had been pushed off the circuit, prompting the McLaren pit wall to tell Piastri to be more careful in their fight. However, Piastri insisted there is no bad blood between the pair. He revealed that he and Norris even travelled to the airport together and played padel during the week, choosing to be teammates in the game as well. Piastri acknowledged that close racing will naturally create stressful moments, but said the relationship inside the team remains perfectly healthy.
The Australian now hopes his improved form can continue at Madrid’s new Madring circuit. McLaren has won two of the last three races, while the circuit’s combination of high-speed corners could potentially play to the team’s strengths. Piastri also has previous success at tracks sharing similarities with Madrid, including Saudi Arabia, Baku and Zandvoort. However, he remains cautious because the new circuit features demanding banking, heavy kerbs, different corner types and significant compromises in car setup, all of which could create fresh challenges.
Despite not standing on the podium since the Miami Grand Prix in May, Piastri believes he and McLaren now have a clearer understanding of what needs to improve. He feels the team was considerably more competitive at Monza and hopes those gains can translate to Madrid. The new circuit is expected to suit McLaren better than Monza, particularly through its faster sections, but Piastri admits the team must wait for the first running to discover where it truly stands. With the championship battle continuing, the Australian will be looking to turn his recent progress into a much stronger run of 
results.
