McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella is banking on Oscar Piastri‘s “charismastic leadership” to turn the tides of the team’s dismal start to the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The Woking-based team hasn’t started F1’s latest era on entirely the right foot. Three rounds in, the team has collectively suffered three DNSs already.
Piastri crashed out during the installation lap at the season-opening Australian GP, with the duo of Piastri and Lando Norris suffering a double DNS in China, a week later.
That said, the 2025 Constructors’ Champions had a relatively positive outing in Japan. Piastri slotted the MCL40 onto the second-row of the grid after qualifying.
Raceday saw the Australian briefly leading the Grand Prix, eventually taking the chequered flag in second.
Looking forward to the rest of the 2026 season, McLaren hopes to start challenging the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes.
Oscar Piastri leadership already on display?
To get there, Stella believes Piastri’s grit and “charismatic leadership”, already on display so far, will be the perfect catalyst.
“If anything, I think we have seen his steadiness and his strength, which he has been able to pass onto the team,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.
“Because the team gets a lot of inspiration from his charismatic leadership, which the drivers can offer, and that has definitely been a boost for the entire team, through the adversity.
“So really well done to Oscar for the ways he’s been facing this stuff, and now it is the responsibility of McLaren and the team to offer Lando and Oscar a car which can compete for victories.
“If we want to be in this position in the future, consistently, we will have to improve the chassis by a few tenths of a second, and that’s the aim we have in relation to bringing upgrades in the coming races.”
Stella’s belief in Piastri is unsurprising given his podium in Suzuka. Fighting through difficult moments is integral to any potential world champion, and Piastri has passed this test to date with flying colours. Building on this recovery is the next step.
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