Piastri speculates if “faster” MCL40 will be enough to challenge Mercedes

Written by Mia Wallace

Credit: Formula One

Word on the street says the MCL40’s new upgrades will turn the tables in Miami. Oscar Piastri debunks the rumors.

Coming off of a strong second place finish in Japan over a month ago, Oscar Piastri has provided hints as to how the upgraded MCL40 could stack up against a dominant Mercedes challenger.

The Silver Arrows have claimed every race win so far this season, but Piastri turned heads in Japan, securing a second place finish in what was his first race start of the year. Now, following a what some are referring to as “spring break”, teams are rolling out upgrades in hopes of finally challenging Mercedes’ early grip on the championship.

When asked about the pecking order, Piastri revealed that while the upgraded McLaren challenger is “faster”, an increase in speed still does not guarantee that Mercedes will be particularly threatened. 

“It is not going to be enough to challenge Mercedes I don’t think,” he said. 

It’s no surprise that Piastri is remaining cautious about taking the fight to Mercedes, who have produced a car that looks nearly untouchable in the opening rounds. Still, their season hasn’t been without flaws. Despite his teammate Kimi Antonelli having continued streaks of success in the car, George Russell has battled technical issues in past qualifying sessions, and suffered consequences from the same safety car that sealed Antonelli’s victory in Japan.

Russell’s cracks may offer some encouragement to the chasing pack, however McLaren has their own reason for optimism. The team has finally had extended time to get to grips with its new power unit ahead of Miami. Both papaya drivers previously pointed to the challenges of adapting to new regulations, particularly with Mercedes, their engine supplier, holding an early advantage in power unit development.

While Piastri states that their upgrades are a “step in the right direction,” the Australian driver is remaining humble. 

"Mercedes are clearly very strong at the moment, so hopefully we can close the gap,” he said. “The Championship is far from over at the moment, but everyone needs to find something soon to get into the fight." 

With race weekend looming, the true impact of McLaren’s upgrades will begin to take shape. While early gains may not immediately translate into a fight for victories, they represent a crucial step in a development race that is only just beginning to heat up. 

For Piastri and his team, Miami offers an early indication of whether their trajectory is enough to keep them within striking distance. Even modest gains now can keep them close and the clock is ticking to Free Practice 1 where those gains will be revealed.