All articles tagged with #oscar piastri
Mercedes' George Russell says McLaren’s Friday practice pace at the Austrian Grand Prix is a real threat, highlighting their race pace in heat and noting Kimi Antonelli’s FP1/FP2 advantage as Piastri and Norris showed strong pace; the comments add to expectations that McLaren and Ferrari may challenge in hot races, alongside Red Bull and Mercedes.
Oscar Piastri lightheartedly referenced a Mario Kart mushroom to Charles Leclerc in the Japanese Grand Prix cooldown room, a moment that entertained the podium trio as Ollie Bearman’s dramatic crash dominated the session and the ongoing chatter around 2026 power-unit tech echoed the game-inspired analogy.
Kimi Antonelli headlines a Suzuka surprise, taking an early-season lead as McLaren and Alpine shine with Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly delivering strong drives. The weekend also delivers setbacks for Ferrari, Williams and Red Bull, while George Russell encounters misfortune that dents his championship momentum, underscoring a fraught Japanese Grand Prix for F1.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri crashed during the Australian Grand Prix reconnaissance laps after an unexpected 100kW power spike from his Mercedes engine; the incident left the car damaged and prevented him from starting the race. He called the moment shocking and attributed part of the fault to cold tyres and using the exit kerb, emphasizing the power surge as a key factor.
Oscar Piastri crashed his McLaren on his lap to the grid for the Australian Grand Prix, destroying the front end and ruling himself out of his home race; he had qualified fifth and was due to share the third row with Lando Norris, while George Russell took pole and Nico Hulkenberg was moved to the pit lane due to a separate issue.
Mercedes’ George Russell secured pole for the 58-lap Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, while home favourite Oscar Piastri spun on the reconnaissance lap and is out of the race; McLaren face early heartbreak as the season opener unfolds amid new F1 regulations, with the UK start time at 04:00 GMT.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli topped the Day 4 morning of the 2026 Barcelona pre-season test with a fastest lap of 1:17.081 and about 90 laps. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) was second (+1.338) ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) on ~87 laps, with Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) fourth (+1.782) and Sergio Perez (Cadillac) fifth (+4.268). Only five cars ran in the opening hours, and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was expected to join later.
McLaren dominated the 2025 F1 season, winning the Teams’ Championship and securing their drivers' titles with Lando Norris becoming World Champion and Piastri finishing third. Norris and Piastri each won seven races, with Norris narrowly winning the Drivers' Championship. The season featured intense head-to-head battles, notable wins, and some setbacks like disqualifications. Looking ahead, McLaren aims for a third consecutive title in 2026, maintaining their 'papaya rules' of driver equality, with hopes of building on their successful year despite new technical regulations.
Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix, moving closer to the F1 title, with Piastri finishing second and Norris fourth; the championship will be decided in Abu Dhabi next week.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri has regained his form in Qatar, excelling on high-grip circuits which suit his driving style, according to team principal Andrea Stella. His performance contrasts with struggles on low-grip tracks, emphasizing technical adaptation over mental factors. The team's unexpected speed in high-speed sectors and close competition with Red Bull and Mercedes highlight the evolving dynamics of the F1 season.
Lando Norris won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix sprint race, extending his championship lead, while Oscar Piastri crashed out, impacting his title chances; the race featured multiple crashes and strategic tyre choices, with Norris holding off challenges to secure the win.
Oscar Piastri crashed out of the Sao Paulo Sprint after losing control on a slippery track, damaging his championship hopes amid treacherous conditions that also caused incidents for other drivers, leading to a red flag and a significant setback in the race.
Lando Norris secured pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix sprint race, with Oscar Piastri third, amidst challenging weather conditions and competitive qualifying sessions. Norris's strong performance gives him a strategic advantage in the championship, while weather and technical issues impact other contenders like Verstappen and Hamilton.
Lando Norris led the Sao Paulo GP FP1, narrowly beating teammate Oscar Piastri in a session marked by a crash from Yuki Tsunoda and traffic challenges, setting the stage for Sprint Qualifying later today.
Oscar Piastri's unexpected lack of pace in qualifying at the Mexican Grand Prix is attributed to a combination of factors, including possible car issues and driving technique mismatched to low-grip conditions, with his team suggesting it's a calibration challenge rather than a mechanical problem. Despite his struggles, Piastri remains optimistic about improving in the race and future events.