Staying on top
A common line currently circulating amongst F1 media circles (after last season’s conclusion) is that Piastri will eventually win a World Championship. In fact, some analysts have predicted the 24-year-old to claim the crown in 2026.
Of course, Piastri is one of the names to watch heading into this season. Assuming he continues his upward trajectory as a driver, there is no reason why he cannot perform well this year.
Moreover, McLaren’s technical department have proven their worth over recent seasons. In combination with a likely strong Mercedes engine, the MCL40 is a car to follow closely during next week’s Bahrain tests.
At the same time, the 2026 regulations are inherently going to create unpredictability. The advantage McLaren build up throughout the ground-effect era is gone, and teams rarely claim consecutive Championships after such a big regulation change.
In this sense, there is no telling when Piastri will contest for another title. For the Australian, his focus will be performing at a level and improving on last year’s weaknesses.
By doing this, should the MCL40 prove title-worthy, he can put himself in a position to capitalise.
Main photo: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images (McLaren Racing Media Portal)
