Piastri says McLaren MCL40 must be wrestled to unlock its pace

Oscar Piastri says extracting speed from the McLaren MCL40 has become a demanding exercise, describing a car that must be driven to the limit to make it respond they way he wants.

The Australian has not finished on the podium since the Miami Grand Prix in May, a run now stretching 17 races. An unbelievable stat, after last year's impressive challenge for the title. Across his 15 finishes since then, his average result has been 7.1. The contrast with team-mate Lando Norris is stark: Norris has claimed four poles and three wins in that period, including victory in São Paulo last time out.

Piastri has found adapting to the current car extremely difficult. The source of the challenge, he explained, however, is not simply a lack of speed: the MCL40 can be quick, but finding the operating limit and keeping it there is tough.

Piastri says the MCL40 needs a harder hand

For Piastri, the car needs to be manhandled. It doesn't naturally behave the way he wants it to, he said, so he has to push exceptionally hard to find both pace and make the car respond to his inputs.

He believes the MCL40 package has race-winning potential when its limits are understood. But that potential is not easy to access, with the balance of effort required leaving little room for a less committed approach. The challenge he's been facing is also reflected in Piastri’s wider 2026 deficit, as he continues to seek a more consistent way to get the best out of the car.

The 2026 car feels less communicative than its predecessor

Piastri contrasted the 2026 cars with last year’s machinery. The newer cars are lighter and smaller, and move around more through corners, requiring repeated small steering corrections. The 2025 car, by comparison, gave him clearer feedback and had strong natural pace.

He said that last year he could sometimes drive below the absolute limit without losing much speed. In the current car, backing off from full commitment quickly costs lap time. That difference places a premium on maintaining intensity throughout a lap.

The change is notable given Piastri’s previous form: in 2025, he led the championship for 15 races before a late-season downturn. Both McLaren drivers have spoken about the MCL40’s shortcomings and its difficulty to drive. Piastri’s account adds detail to both of their struggles, while echoing his own assessment of McLaren’s key weakness: speed alone is not enough if the car is difficult to control at its limit.