McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes Oscar Piastri's current deficit to Lando Norris is down to the Australian still "thinking and driving" with the 2026 Formula 1 machinery.
Piastri's discomfort with the new breed of F1 cars has been evident throughout the season so far. It had become clear over the previous two years that his strengths lie in carrying speed through high-speed corners and in high-grip conditions. The reduced aero output and narrower tyres dictated by the 2026 rules have stripped away much of the grip from the new cars, bringing Piastri out of his overall comfort zone.
