Piastri not able to drive ‘through pure instinct’ – Stella
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella says Oscar Piastri’s race pace is affected by adapting to the MCL40’s low-grip conditions, with tyre performance and pit strategy also impacting results.
Oscar Piastri’s recent struggles to maintain pace with McLaren’s MCL40, particularly on harder tyre compounds, were highlighted at the Dutch Grand Prix, where he finished sixth despite an early overtake on George Russell. Team Principal Andrea Stella noted that Piastri’s ability to adapt his driving style to the car’s low grip levels requires mental adjustments, which can cost tenths of a second compared to instinctive driving. Stella emphasized this is a technical challenge rather than a psychological issue, though he acknowledged the team’s slow pit stop during the race cost Piastri a potential better position.
Stella also pointed to the broader context of Formula 1’s tight competition, where small inefficiencies—such as tyre performance or pit strategy—can lead to significant positional losses. He cited Piastri’s struggles with the 2026 car’s tyre management and deployment as compounding factors, noting that missing two opening races deprived the team of critical data. The team’s focus remains on refining Piastri’s adaptation to the car’s demands while addressing operational issues like pit stops.
Piastri’s 2025 season has seen a decline in form compared to his near-title challenge in 2024, with only two podiums this year against Lando Norris’s three wins (including a Sprint). Stella acknowledged Piastri’s occasional flashes of pace but stressed the need for consistent performance across all race phases, especially as the championship fight tightens. The team’s work with Piastri centers on optimizing his driving approach to extract maximum performance from the MCL40 under varying conditions.
Stella concluded that while Piastri’s challenges are primarily technical, the margin for error in modern F1 is razor-thin, with even minor setbacks—such as a slow pit stop or suboptimal tyre performance—resulting in substantial losses. He expressed satisfaction with Piastri’s progress during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend and expects further improvements as the team addresses these issues. The focus remains on closing the gap to rivals within a highly competitive field where every detail matters.