Lando Norris (McLaren): Has the cause of Oscar Piastri’s slump finally been identified?

There has been much talk that experienced, exceptionally intelligent and adaptable Formula 1 drivers will cope better with the 2026 generation of cars than their rivals. And that the modern cars suit the driving style of some Grand Prix stars better than that of others. But all of this has long since been disproved from various perspectives.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, for example, is inexperienced compared to drivers such as Fernando Alonso or Nico Hülkenberg, yet he is getting on quite well with the 2026 car. So is it primarily a question of flexibility after all?

Mercedes driver George Russell has noted that some F1 drivers would perform better in 2026 precisely because their driving style is better suited to the new generation of racing cars.

F1 world champion Lando Norris recently spoke about these connections. The 26-year-old Englishman disagrees with Russell: “I wouldn’t go so far as to say that my driving style suits these cars. I believe, rather, that I achieve good results because I can adapt.”

“I think it’s too simplistic to say it’s all about driving style. I certainly don’t drive in the same way as Kimi Antonelli. I’ve never had Russell as a team-mate or Lewis Hamilton, so George might have more points of comparison than I do. But I’m convinced of this: it’s not about driving style, it’s about adaptability.”

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“At the start of last year, the McLaren suited Oscar Piastri a little better than it suited me. My strength then was understanding better how to get more out of the car. That’s why the second half of my season was better. And that’s why I’ll be better in 2026 too.”

Oscar Piastri won his last Grand Prix – for the time being, at least – more than a year ago, at Zandvoort. In the remainder of the 2025 season, the Australian only made it onto the podium three times in nine World Championship races. During the same period, Norris finished on the podium six times and won twice.

In 2026, Norris has two wins and five podium finishes, whilst Piastri, as mentioned, remains winless and has two podium finishes.

Once again, 13-time Grand Prix winner Norris: “If I compare the 2025 and 2026 cars, I’d say – only one per cent of the race cars feel the same. Everything else is different. You drive almost completely differently. So it’s not about the way you drive, but about adaptability.”