Oscar Piastri Vows He's 'Hungry and Ready' After Title Loss to Norris

Oscar Piastri saw a potential maiden F1 title slip away to his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, after a difficult second half of the season. Despite fading from a 34-point lead to a third-place finish, the Australian driver is already looking ahead, vowing he is "hungry and ready" to mount a stronger challenge in 2026.

Why it matters:

• Piastri's collapse from a strong position highlights the razor-thin margins in F1 and the immense pressure of a title fight.
• His response signals a deepening rivalry at McLaren, potentially creating one of the most compelling intra-team battles on the grid for 2026.
• The experience gained from battling both Norris and Max Verstappen is invaluable for a driver poised to be a future championship contender.

The details:

• Piastri held a commanding 34-point lead over Norris after the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
• A late-season downturn, including a crash in Azerbaijan and poor results in Austin, Mexico, and Brazil, proved decisive.
• He ultimately finished the season 13 points behind Norris in the drivers' standings.
• McLaren attributed much of the slump to struggles on low-grip circuits, where Piastri seemed less comfortable compared to high-grip tracks where he excelled earlier in the year.

What's next:

• Piastri emphasized he is "hungry and ready" for the 2026 season, which will feature significant regulation changes for both cars and power units.
• He believes the battles with Norris and Verstappen this year have given him crucial confidence and experience to carry forward, regardless of the new machinery.
• The 2026 season presents a reset of sorts, and Piastri appears determined to ensure he is at the front of the pack when the new era begins.