Piastri Says Red Bull Now on Par with Mercedes, McLaren Losing Momentum in F1 2026
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- Oscar Piastri menilai Red Bull telah menyamai Mercedes sebagai tim terkuat di F1 2026 setelah upgrade besar di Baku dan kemenangan Verstappen di Malaysia.
- McLaren yang sempat mendominasi di Hungaroring dan Zandvoort justru tertinggal, dengan masalah injeksi bahan bakar dan kesulitan set-up mobil MCL40.
- Singapore Grand Prix menjadi ujian berat bagi McLaren untuk bangkit, terutama dengan format sprint yang menyulitkan pencarian set-up ideal.
Oscar Piastri believes the Formula 1 2026 competitive landscape has shifted dramatically: Red Bull is now seen as level with Mercedes as the strongest team, while McLaren has lost its footing. The Australian driver's remarks came after a series of disappointing results in the last two races, which have raised questions about McLaren's position as a title challenger.
Red Bull brought a major upgrade package for the RB22 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, covering changes to the sidepod, floor, mirrors, halo, and diffuser. The results were immediately visible: Max Verstappen, who started from eighth, nearly overtook George Russell to take victory in Baku, before going on to dominate in Malaysia. Those two results were Red Bull's best of the season and marked the resurgence of the Milton Keynes-based team.
On the other side, McLaren also updated the MCL40 in Baku with revisions to the sidepod, engine cover, floor, diffuser, rear suspension, and rear wing. However, according to principal Andrea Stella, the upgrade did not provide a significant advantage over rivals. Piastri actually had a chance to finish on the podium in Baku had he not suffered a lock-up at the end of the race, while in Sepang both McLaren drivers had to settle for finishes outside the top five.
In his analysis, Piastri highlighted Mercedes' speed at circuits with long straights such as Baku, but admitted he was surprised Mercedes was not faster in Malaysia, which also has many straights. "Whatever Red Bull put on their car in Baku clearly had a big impact, because Baku had slipped under the radar for them with Max's starting position and engine problems. If he starts at the front, the pressure on George would be enormous throughout the race," Piastri said.
"Mercedes has always been the best, and I think Red Bull has joined them in recent weeks." — Oscar Piastri
Meanwhile, Lando Norris revealed that his team is still struggling to recapture the form it showed when winning in Budapest, Zandvoort, and Madrid. He cited straight-line speed and the car's characteristics as the main concerns. "We are still underperforming relative to the level we want to be at. We have to do better, whatever the conditions," Norris said. He also added that the problems in Sepang were not entirely circuit-specific, though the rough asphalt surface played a part.
McLaren will face a tough challenge at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend. The sprint format leaves limited preparation time, while Piastri described the MCL40 as a car that is difficult to find the ideal set-up for quickly. "With this year's car, it has never been easy for either of us, especially me. This will really test us," he admitted. Nevertheless, Norris has a good track record at Marina Bay, having won from pole position in 2024.
For F1 fans in Indonesia, this dynamic makes for compelling viewing ahead of the Asian rounds. Red Bull and Mercedes now appear as the main forces, while McLaren must fight hard not to fall further behind. The question is, can McLaren use the Singapore street circuit to bounce back, or will it sink further in the shadow of its two rivals? The answer will be clear within days.
