Andrea Stella: Oscar Piastri's Lack of Instinctive Driving is Holding Him Back
McLaren's Andrea Stella explains how Oscar Piastri's need for technical adaptation over instinctive driving affects his race performance. Piastri's struggles with the 2026 car, coupled with team errors, have seen him fall behind teammate Lando Norris.
Andrea Stella, McLaren's Team Principal, has shed light on the challenges Oscar Piastri faces in extracting race-winning pace from his MCL40. As Piastri marked a year without a win at the Dutch Grand Prix, finishing sixth while teammate Lando Norris clinched victory, Stella pointed to the Australian's need for more cerebral driving as a factor.
While Norris has enjoyed multiple wins this season, Piastri's results have been limited to two podiums, highlighting a gap in their ability to harness the car's potential. Stella noted that Piastri struggles particularly with the harder tyre compounds, where instinctive driving could make a difference. "Last year, we saw Oscar needing to adjust his driving style when the car's grip was low, as in Mexico or Austin," Stella observed. "This adaptation requires mental effort, costing him vital tenths because he processes rather than reacts instinctively."
Piastri's race at Zandvoort encapsulated these challenges. After a clever move past George Russell, his pace dwindled following a pit stop for hard tyres, eventually leaving him behind both Ferraris. Stella emphasized that this wasn't purely a driver issue. A slow pit stop allowed Russell to regain position, and Piastri's second stint on hard tyres was marred by low grip. "We need to work on these areas," Stella admitted, "It's not just about Oscar's driving."
The 2026 cars differ significantly from last year’s models, and Piastri's start to the season was hindered by two DNS results, depriving him of crucial data. Stella pointed out that such setbacks can have a significant impact in a competitive field. "With at least three teams within a tenth of a second, any lack of optimization can lead to a substantial positional loss," he explained. "If you're not optimized, you're looking at P6 instead of a podium."
Despite these issues, Stella remains optimistic. "I've seen improvements from Oscar this weekend, and I'm confident there will be more as the season progresses," he concluded. As McLaren continues to refine their approach, Piastri will need to find a balance between technical adaptation and instinctive flair to close the gap to his teammate.