
29 December 2025Racingnews365Race reportDriver Ratings
Oscar Piastri Vows He's 'Hungry and Ready' After Title Loss to Norris
After losing the F1 title to teammate Lando Norris following a late-season slump, Oscar Piastri declared he is "hungry and ready" to challenge again in 2026.
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.