Oscar Piastri says simulations have shown an interesting speed deficit this weekend in Monza. Image: XPB Images
The finding comes ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at a circuit famously known as the ‘Temple of Speed’, where long straights and low-downforce configurations have traditionally produced some of Formula 1’s highest speeds.
But the characteristics of the new-generation cars have changed that equation, with energy management expected to play a significant role around Monza.
McLaren will introduce its low-drag H-Wing into competition for the first time this weekend, having tested the rotating rear wing concept during practice in Hungary.
Despite that addition, Piastri revealed the simulations suggested the MCL40 could still reach a lower maximum speed on Monza’s main straight than it did at the Hungaroring.
“In our sim running, I think we were actually quicker on the front straight in Hungary than we were here, which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but it’s more that we just don’t have the energy to spend,” Piastri said.
“But again, if you gave us the energy to spend, we then don’t have anywhere to harvest it, so you run into a problem no matter which way you go.
“For me, I think this is the correct direction to go in and have a sensible amount of super clipping.”
Monza’s high percentage of full-throttle running leaves fewer opportunities for drivers to recover electrical energy before deploying it again, creating a different challenge to more technical venues such as Hungary.
Piastri said increasing the amount of energy available would create another problem by producing more severe clipping towards the end of the straights.
“At a circuit like this, you’ve got a problem no matter which direction you go,” he said.
“If the harvest limit was higher, we would be super clipping everywhere and probably losing 30 or 40km/h at the end of each straight.
“But the drop to the harvest limit, which means the super clipping is a normal-ish amount, or a reasonable amount, it’s still there.
“Obviously you then don’t have as much energy to spend on the straights, so the actual top speed is quite low.
“So we’ll wait and see what top speeds we get.”
McLaren confirms rotating ‘H-Wing’ for Italian GP
The energy demands could also create an unpredictable grand prix, with Piastri expecting the different deployment strategies to make the opening stages especially hectic.
“I think the race is going to be chaos, especially at the beginning,” he said.
“It’s obviously a track that’s very, very energy-starved and a lot of different straights where you can use your energy. So, yes, I think the racing could be pretty extraordinary.
“We’ve got a lot of track time until then, so we’ll see what kind of deployment everybody has and where it all pans out.
“But, yes, I’m expecting it to be pretty chaotic, exciting – pick or choose which perspective you want on that, but it’s going to be eventful one way or another.”
The Italian Grand Prix also presents Piastri with an opportunity to halt a recent run in which he has struggled to match McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
Piastri was just 11 points behind Norris following the Belgian Grand Prix, but that margin has ballooned to 55 after the past two weekends.
Norris won in both Hungary and the Netherlands, while Piastri retired from contention at the Hungaroring before finishing fifth in the Zandvoort sprint and sixth in the grand prix.
The Australian was much closer to Norris over a single lap in the Netherlands, but acknowledged his race pace remained an area McLaren needed to understand.
“I think it’s never been the same issue or thing we’re chasing every weekend. It’s always been slightly different which I think kind of raises a bigger question,” Piastri said.
“If it was just one thing we kept struggling with it would, in some ways, be a bit of an easy fix but I think the fact we’ve kind of found different ways of having difficulty, we’ve been trying to answer that question.
“And we are getting closer, finding more ideas and ultimately the only way you can really solve it is by trying stuff on track.
“Not saying that we’ve gone away and found this problem, we’ve definitely got ideas on how we can make things better, both from how I drive the car and how we set up the car.”
Piastri conceded the characteristics of the 2026 machinery had not always suited him as naturally as last year, while reliability and misfortune had also contributed to his season.
He nevertheless believed McLaren now had avenues to explore as he looked to rediscover the form required to challenge Norris.
“Hopefully we can find something that works a bit better,” he said.
“I think in Zandvoort, Qualifying was a much bigger step, Lando and I were very close but clearly in the race there was a deficit.
“That’s the area we’re trying to work on.”
First practice at Monza gets underway at 8.30pm AEST Friday.
2026 F1 Italian Grand Prix – Schedule, how to watch, TV times & more