Oscar Piastri is optimistic that he can start \u201cchallenging for wins\u201d more consistently over the second half of the season, with the McLaren driver admitting that his team\u2019s rapid progress in previous years gives him confidence they can return to the front.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a topsy-turvy season for Piastri<\/a> so far \u2013 after fighting for a maiden Drivers\u2019 Championship in 2025, he began 2026 by failing to start the opening two Grands Prix in Australia and China.<\/p>\n That was followed by podiums in Japan and Miami, where McLaren<\/a> enjoyed their strongest weekend of the season with both drivers, but he has missed out on the top three ever since and even finished outside of the points on two occasions.<\/p>\n His fortunes seemed to change at the final race before the summer break as he snatched the lead from team mate Lando Norris<\/a> at the Hungaroring. However, contact with Williams\u2019 Carlos Sainz<\/a> and a subsequent gearbox problem forced him to retire while Norris secured McLaren\u2019s first victory of the year.<\/p>\n Asked in a team Q&A what his targets are for the remaining rounds, Piastri replied: \u201cI think for myself, it’s always about trying to improve and trying to learn more things. I think anything that I can learn that’s going to help me when we’re in a stronger position again is only going to be a good thing.<\/p>\n \u201cIn terms of results, I would love to be able to be challenging for wins again, as I have done at the Hungaroring. I think if we can start challenging for wins then we can start thinking about what we can achieve in the Championship.<\/p>\n \u201cBut first and foremost, we need to just make sure we’re getting the most out of the car and ourselves every weekend. Then if we’ve got the car to be able to win, then we can try to win.\u201d<\/p>\n Although the Woking-based outfit clinched both 2025 titles, they found that, under the new regulations, they were significantly off the pace set by Mercedes<\/a>. At the season opener, they were around eight-tenths off George Russell<\/a>\u2019s pole position time, and Norris later crossed the line 51s behind the Briton.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, McLaren have demonstrated in recent years that a combination of effective upgrades and steady points finishes can help them improve up the pecking order \u2013 in 2024, they introduced a refreshed package in Miami, where Norris claimed his first win and kickstarted an incredible turnaround for the team.<\/p>\n