Oscar Piastri Reflects on 2025 F1 Season and Looks Ahead to 2026
Oscar Piastri finished third in the 2025 Formula 1 drivers' championship standings, behind Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Midseason, Piastri led Norris by 34 points and had a significant margin over Verstappen; however, he ended the year 13 points behind Norris following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Several key moments influenced Piastri's campaign. McLaren's team order at Monza to swap positions cost him six points, while a strategic decision not to pit during the safety car period in Qatar also proved costly. Additionally, Piastri experienced a spin in Melbourne and an accident in Azerbaijan, which affected his results.
Both Norris and Piastri secured seven race wins each during the season. Norris suggested that Piastri will eventually surpass him, noting that Piastri is 24 years old compared to Norris's 26. Piastri has expressed that intra-team competition will remain the same in 2026, with fairness and equality applied within McLaren, and he dismissed the idea that Norris would become unbeatable.
Looking ahead, regulatory changes planned for 2026—including updates to power units, chassis, and aerodynamics—are expected to reshape the competitive landscape. Red Bull will compete with a new-look team without Helmut Marko, while McLaren's engineering strengths remain a central asset. Zak Brown affirmed the team's confidence by stating their intention to ‘go again’ with Piastri in the upcoming season.
