Piastri Reflects on Narrow 2025 Title Loss and Gears Up for 2026 Challenge Against Norris

Oscar Piastri, the young Australian driver for McLaren, has shared his reflections on a bittersweet 2025 Formula 1 season where he narrowly missed out on the Drivers' Championship to his teammate Lando Norris. Entering his third full season in F1, Piastri led the standings by 34 points at one stage but ultimately saw his advantage slip away, finishing as runner-up while Norris claimed his maiden title as F1's 35th champion.

Speaking from the McLaren Technology Centre after a simulator session, Piastri appeared relaxed and rejuvenated following the winter break in Australia. "For me, it was important to just have some time to chill out and probably not think about racing for a couple of weeks, which was nice," he said. The break allowed him to process the season's highs and lows, including his seven Grand Prix victories and a remarkable streak of 15 podiums in 16 races leading into the summer break.

However, a challenging final stretch without a podium in six rounds, marred by a few mistakes, proved costly. Piastri views the experience as a valuable learning curve rather than a setback. "There's definitely a lot of tough lessons you learn when things aren't going the way you want," he admitted. "I'm always someone that tries to take what I can from any situation, regardless of how good or bad it's been." At just 24 years old, he emphasized the progress from 2024 to 2025 as a positive blueprint for future success.

Looking ahead to 2026, Piastri is excited about the all-new regulations introducing shorter, narrower chassis, active aerodynamics, and a 50-50 split power unit between fuel and electric power. These changes, including new driver functions like boost, overtake, and recharge, will demand more from pilots. "Obviously, we don't know what our car is going to be like, and that's the first piece of the puzzle that you need to be strong," Piastri noted. He anticipates another intense intra-team battle with Norris, whom he shares a strong working relationship with.

The duo's unity has been instrumental in McLaren's back-to-back Constructors' Championships. Even amid their championship fight, collaboration remained key. "What was really encouraging for both of us and for the whole team more so was that even when we were fighting for a championship, or a Drivers' Championship, the way we worked together was still the same," Piastri reflected. With massive rule changes ahead, he believes their proven ability to set egos aside and focus on development will be crucial in a season expected to see rapid evolution among teams.

"It was an awesome year to be part of that," Piastri said of 2025, despite the outcome. "We kept each other on our toes the whole year, and I'm sure that's going to continue for as long as we're team mates." As F1 enters this new era, Piastri is poised to build on his momentum and challenge for the title once more.