After missing out on the title in 2025, Oscar Piastri talks about past mistakes – The Australian explains why a rebellion wouldn’t be wise
The 2026 Formula 1 season is looming, and for Oscar Piastri, the year begins with the ultimate home race in Melbourne. But while fans at Albert Park are hoping for the first home victory by an Australian, one question smolders in the background: Is Piastri ready to finally shed the role of number two behind world champion Lando Norris?
Looking back at 2025: In the end, Piastri was just 13 points short of the world championship crown. A bitter pill to swallow, as he sacrificed more points through team orders during the season than he ultimately needed to win the title. But anyone expecting a loud outcry or a palace revolution in Woking is in for a surprise. The 24-year-old is his usual cool and collected self ahead of the season opener.
“Rebellion would not be wise”
When asked whether his main goal this season is to prove that he is no longer a well-behaved assistant, Piastri responds with his usual analytical approach: “There’s a lot to that question. We will always drive in the best interests of the team,“ he clarified in a press conference.
While he admits that ”perhaps not always the perfect decisions“ were made last season, he emphasizes that there was no malicious intent. For Piastri, emancipation is not an end in itself anyway: ”I have nothing to prove. I’m certainly not going to develop a rebellious streak or anything like that.“
His argument is purely logical, in the style of an engineer at the wheel: ”The fastest way to ensure you don’t win a championship is to work against your own team. That wouldn’t be a smart move.” Instead, they sat down together and optimized the processes for 2026.
The “Odd Couple”: Brown and Stella
An important factor for the internal climate at McLaren is the leadership duo. While Zak Brown is often perceived as the emotional marketing giant—and was viewed critically in Australia after last year’s incidents—Andrea Stella is considered the calm center of stability. “My relationship with Zak is very good and it has grown stronger over time,” Piastri says in defense of his boss. “He’s fun and it’s good to have him around.” The combination of Brown’s American drive and Stella’s methodical approach works extremely well. “As a team, we had difficult moments last year, like every team, but I think that has only made our relationship stronger.”
The unknown: the new regulations
In sporting terms, Piastri faces the biggest challenge of his career so far in 2026. The new regulations are a “reset” for the entire field. It remains to be seen whether he can take the next step in his development, but the signs are good.
“It’s hard to say because we haven’t started yet,” said the McLaren driver. “Much of what I’ve learned in recent years is transferable, but the challenges and changes in driving style are quite different from anything we’ve seen before.” Nevertheless, the process remains the same: “I’m confident that I can take another step forward.”
The dream of a home victory
And then there’s the matter of the trophy on Sunday. A victory at the season opener in Melbourne would be the icing on the cake for the boy from the neighborhood. “If I had a dollar for every time I was asked that question, I’d be, well, a few dollars richer,” he jokes.
“Every driver wants to win their home race. The fact that it’s the season opener brings with it a big unknown. I’d be delighted to win here. If we have the car to do it—and even if we don’t—I’ll give it my best shot.”
