McLaren team principal Andrea Stella admitted ahead of the upcoming street fixtures that Oscar Piastri is losing pace by consciously overthinking his 2026 Formula 1 machinery.
The Australian driver has faced a widening performance deficit to 2025 world champion Lando Norris throughout the current campaign. The transition to the updated aerodynamic and tyre regulations has dramatically cut high-speed downforce, dragging Piastri away from his preferred operating window.
Adapting The New Machinery Setup
To combat this instinctive shortfall, the Woking outfit has deployed technical setup modifications originally pioneered for Norris last season. Stella told Motorsport.com that they must stop the Australian from constantly “thinking” while navigating the demanding new aerodynamic rules.
Early setup adjustments yielded qualifying improvements across the Zandvoort and Monza race weekends, though a frustrating Madrid strategy setback stalled momentum. Speaking to PlanetF1, Stella confirmed that helping the Melbourne native adapt to lower grip levels remains a “purely technical” process.
This recalibration is designed to arrest a growing teammate performance gap, allowing the Australian to trust the vehicle dynamics rather than over-analysing mid-corner inputs. Engineers hope these modifications will prevent excessive tyre wear during long stints.
Speaking to Grande Premio English, Stella praised the recent development. He concluded: “So I am very happy and satisfied with the progress Oscar is making, and I think he will have a very strong second half of the season.”
The Formula 1 paddock next prepares for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
