Andrea Stella believes Oscar Piastri will be a force in the second half of the F1 season, comparing the Australian's adaptation to the new-generation cars to the "great trajectory of development" seen from his team-mate.
Speaking after Lando Norris' Hungarian Grand Prix victory, McLaren's team principal pointed to Piastri's ongoing adjustment to the low-grip characteristics of the 2026 machinery as an area where significant gains remain on the table.
Piastri sits seventh in the drivers' championship on 92 points, 36 behind Norris in fifth, having endured a disrupted start to the campaign.
A crash on his way to the grid in Melbourne and a power unit failure in Shanghai meant two consecutive DNS results to open his season, and while he has recovered with podiums in Japan and Miami, he has yet to stand on the top step.
His weekend at the Hungaroring encapsulated the frustration. Having led the opening stages after a strong getaway, being hit by backmarker Carlos Sainz cost him the lead before a gearbox failure forced him into retirement, denying him what looked like a certain podium.
Stella, though, sees no cause for alarm. Discussing Norris's growth, he extended the same optimism to Piastri, telling media including RacingNews365: "This is honestly the same with Oscar as well.
"Oscar is still getting in tune with these 2026 cars, low-grip cars, and there's an opportunity there to find some pace, and there's great work happening between Oscar, his engineering team, and his wider team."
The new F1 regulations have presented every driver with a steep learning curve. Narrower tyres, reduced downforce and dramatically increased electrical power from the MGU-K have fundamentally altered how these cars need to be driven, particularly in low-speed corners and traction zones.
For Piastri, who missed crucial early mileage through no fault of his own, the challenge has been compounded.
Still, Stella is confident the pieces will come together. He added: "So I think we will see a very strong Oscar for the second part of the season."
Originally published by RacingNews365 —
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