Oscar Piastri has admitted that he misses the pressure of fighting for the Formula 1 world championship after a challenging 2026 campaign with McLaren. While the Australian is enjoying a less stressful season, he made it clear that competing for the title remains his ultimate goal.
Key Highlights
- Oscar Piastri admits he misses the pressure and intensity of a Formula 1 title fight.
- The McLaren driver sits seventh in the 2026 standings with three races remaining and no podium finishes.
- McLaren has struggled to adapt to the new regulations, although recent upgrades have shown signs of progress.
- Piastri's main target for the remaining races is to help McLaren catch Red Bull in the constructors' championship.
Piastri Misses the Pressure of Fighting for the F1 Title
Piastri spent much of last season leading the drivers' standings before eventually finishing third behind McLaren team-mate Lando Norris and Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Despite missing out on the championship, it was a successful campaign for the Australian as the ground-effect regulations came to an end.
However, the 2026 season has been a different story. With three races remaining, Piastri sits seventh in the standings and has yet to secure a podium finish or race victory. Asked whether being out of the championship fight had affected him, the McLaren driver acknowledged that he missed the intensity of competing for the title, even though this season has been less stressful.
"Yes and no," he said. "I want to be in a championship fight every year if I can be, but also, it's definitely a bit more relaxed this year. Obviously, we're not wanting to be in this position, but there's not quite the same stress.
"But that stress that you have in a championship fight is the feeling you want, because it means you're fighting for something that is what your goal is. I am missing that feeling this year for sure."
McLaren Still Working to Improve Its 2026 Car
McLaren has struggled to maintain the pace it demonstrated over the previous two seasons under Formula 1's new regulations. Piastri explained that the car had been difficult to drive from the beginning of the campaign, with the team needing time to understand the changes required.
"It wasn't that easy to drive, and it's still not been easy to drive, even now," he said. "It took us a while to understand exactly what needed to change, and then trying to actually change it is tough. But we're making progress with it slowly."
There were encouraging signs at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Norris secured victory at Interlagos on Sunday after McLaren introduced an upgraded front wing designed to make the car more predictable. Meanwhile, Piastri recovered to sixth place after being eliminated in Q2.
Beating Red Bull Becomes Piastri's Main Target
With the drivers' championship now out of reach, Piastri has shifted his attention towards McLaren's position in the constructors' standings. McLaren currently sits fourth, 17 points behind Red Bull, leaving the Australian determined to help close the gap over the remaining races.
"Just keep learning and ultimately try and beat Red Bull in the constructors' championship. That's the big thing," he said. "It's not going to be an easy task for sure, but I think it's possible. I think the car took a step forward this weekend, so hopefully that keeps going."
Piastri Confirms Split From Manager Mark Webber
Away from the track, Piastri also confirmed on Monday that he had parted ways with manager Mark Webber. The former Red Bull driver had guided the Australian's career since his junior racing days.
Piastri will now turn his attention to the next round in Las Vegas, where he will have another opportunity to help McLaren make progress in its battle against Red Bull in the constructors' championship.
