Oscar Piastri admits the McLaren MCL40 still falls short of Lando Norris’ blistering pace after his Hungaroring outing.
Piastri Acknowledges Pace Gap
The 25‑year‑old said he “has not been able to get the pace out of it” as he finished just ahead of seventh‑placed Kimi Antonelli but 55 points behind Norris.
Despite qualifying fourth—only 0.142‑second shy of Norris—Piastri’s race was hampered by a slow 5.4‑second stopping error and a struggling second stint on hard tyres.
He highlighted that the new downforce limits create a lower‑grip environment, a scenario that previously saw his title challenge stall at Baku, Singapore and Mexico City.
Critical Pitstop and Grip Issues
Andrea Stella emphasized that the team’s slow stop and inability to adapt the hard tyres into a grip‑positive regime are purely technical obstacles, “not a psychological issue.”
During the pit phase, a slow stop cost Piastri positions, forcing the team to over‑take Russell in the first stint but failing to rebuild advantage thereafter.
Stella noted that the MCL40’s performance drops sharply when tyres stay in a low‑grip regime, unlike the high‑grip first stint where Oscar delivered competitive lap times.
Technical Analysis of the MCL40 in Low‑Grip
The car’s aero package, cut under the 2026 regulation, leaves it vulnerable when dihedral angles bite less and downforce is reduced.
Low‑grip tracks have historically exposed Piastri’s sensitivity to stability, which Norris has learned to counter with his aggressive racing style.
Stage‑by‑stage, the MCL40 must tighten its tyre management to maintain traction across both stints, a factor that will determine future competitiveness.
Norris’ Dominance in Qualifying
Norris capitalised on the upgraded MCL40 by winning his last two grands prix from pole, while Piastri struggled to match his pace.
His 0.040‑second advantage over the Mercedes duo in Q1, Q2, and Q3 underscored the incremental performance gap that can cost positions in such a tight field.
In short, the ability to maximise a marginally stronger package will prove decisive when rivals operate within a tenth‑of‑second spread.
Forward Look: What McLaren Must Fix
McLaren’s technical team faces a dual challenge: fine‑tune the pit‑stop rhythm and engineer a tyre strategy that preserves grip through both stints.
Time‑critical moves on the start‑line and during get‑away are now crucial, as even a single lost second can derail a car’s momentum in this era of near‑parallel performance.
With the season swelling, the focus shifts to consistent lap times, quick pit reactions, and a car that thrives under the new low‑downforce conditions.
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