Oscar Piastri Joins Ferrari vs. Red Bull Speed Debate

Oscar Piastri, the McLaren driver, has weighed in on the ongoing debate regarding the fastest car on the Formula 1 grid. This comes after Red Bull's Isack Hadjar claimed that his teammate Max Verstappen would have dominated the Singapore Grand Prix even more convincingly if he had been driving Ferrari's SF-26.

Verstappen secured his second victory of the season in Singapore, shortly after winning in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. However, Hadjar's suggestion that a Ferrari would have extended Verstappen's margin of victory has sparked discussion. Piastri offered his perspective, suggesting that Red Bull has the "most consistently quick car."

McLaren finds itself under increasing pressure from Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship fight for third place, with only seven points separating them as they head into the Austin Grand Prix. The Red Bull RB22, upgraded in Baku, has become the car to beat in 2026. Verstappen drove it to a second-place finish in Baku and followed with two consecutive victories.

Reflecting on Red Bull's performance, Piastri noted, "I think Red Bull definitely took a pretty big step forwards over the last triple-header. The upgrades in Baku were strong, leading to a double podium and two wins with Max."

He continued, "Ferrari was expected to be strong in Singapore. Their data shows they’re quickest in corners but lose out on straights, possibly due to drag or power. They were formidable, but Red Bull was also very strong — stronger than us for sure. Over recent weeks, Red Bull has become the most consistently quick car, although every weekend presents new challenges."

Lewis Hamilton echoed Piastri's data observations, noting Red Bull's pace in corners and their advantage on straights. "They're just as quick through corners as us now, and three to four tenths quicker on the straights," Hamilton said. "We have a minor upgrade coming, but it's not enough to close the gap. It's possible the track suits our car, or maybe Red Bull will have an off-weekend."

Hadjar remains insistent that the Red Bull RB22 isn't the benchmark. "I don't think we have the fastest car," he said. "It's still difficult to drive. In Malaysia, we were dominant, but not in Singapore. I believe if Max drove the Ferrari, he'd have won by a larger margin."

Hamilton countered Hadjar's view, acknowledging differing opinions, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc dismissed the idea as "nonsense."