Oscar Piastri pinpoints driving adaptability as key area for improvement after 2025 title loss

Oscar Piastri has identified his ability to adapt his driving style to low-grip conditions as a critical area for improvement, following a 2025 season where he led the championship mid-year but ultimately finished third, 13 points behind McLaren teammate and champion Lando Norris. Despite the late-season slide, Piastri rates the seven-win campaign as his most complete in Formula 1 to date.

Why it matters:

Piastri's self-analysis highlights the fine margins at the pinnacle of F1. His championship challenge faltered not due to a lack of raw speed, but in specific scenarios where extracting maximum performance from the car required a different approach. Mastering this adaptability is often what separates race winners from world champions, making his focus a crucial development for any future title bid.

The details:

• A Season of Two Halves: Piastri held a commanding position after winning the Dutch Grand Prix, but a combination of misfortune and performance struggles in the final races saw him drop to third in the standings.
• Self-Assessment: The Australian driver was candid, calling 2025 his "best season by some margin" and his "most complete season" overall, while acknowledging the final four races were not up to his standard.
• The Identified Gap: Piastri specifically pointed to races like the United States and Mexico Grands Prix, where low-grip conditions demanded a particular driving style. He noted that while teammate Lando Norris adapted successfully, he personally struggled to "click" and get the most out of the car.
• An Uncharacteristic Error: His early crash and retirement at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was noted as an outlier for a driver renowned for his measured, risk-averse approach.

What's next:

Piastri enters the off-season with clear, targeted goals. His challenge is to expand his driving toolkit to maintain peak performance across all circuit conditions and tire types. If he can bridge this adaptability gap while retaining his formidable one-lap pace and racecraft, he will be an even more formidable contender in 2026. The internal battle at McLaren, now between a reigning champion and a highly motivated, self-aware challenger, is set to intensify.