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Full Noise by SN
Running It Straight is back!Piastri's warning to F1 fans over new regulations
Emily Benammar •  March 4th, 2026 11:01 am
Oscar Piastri has told McLaren fans to take whatever happens at the Australian Grand Prix with a pinch of salt, warning the team is not in the same position of power as it was in 2025.
The papaya goes in to 2026 as the hunted having won two consecutive constructors’ titles as well as Lando Norris being the defending world champion.
Both Norris and Piastri enjoyed plenty of success in 2025 with seven race wins apiece and both were in contention for the world title along with Max Verstappen until the final race in Abu Dhabi.
The three pre-season testing weekends have shown the big four – McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari – as the main contenders for the forthcoming season, but if you were going to back one team to shine early the results point to George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and the Silver Arrows.
Speaking ahead of his home Grand prix this weekend, Piastri told Sky Sports: "I think we're in the mix at the moment.
"We'll find out for sure soon enough, but I don't think we're quite in the position we were 12 months ago where we felt like we were the strongest.
"I think this season is not going to be won by who's quickest, or who's the best, at the first race.
"There's going to be a lot of development, a lot of learning, especially for us as drivers, and whoever can get on top of that the quickest in what is a very long season is going to end up on top in the long run."
While McLaren dominated the 2025 season, a wealth of new regulations mean fans will play witness to totally different cars on the track this year.
The reset will see the end of DRS with power boosting available to drivers then they are within a second of a rival.
This season also brings with it new engine regulations meaning the hybrids will allow for much greater electrical power (50% now as opposed to 20% previously).
There will also be more cars on the track with Cadillac joining the grid with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as their drivers.
"I think every time there's a regulation reset there are a few different pathways you can go down and I think we've probably seen a few teams go down different pathways," Piastri added.
"So it's going to be interesting to see which one ends up being the best. If there's one thing I do know, it's just how competent our team is and especially our engineering team.
"We've shown over the last two or three years just how quickly we can get things back on track and how quickly we can turn things around.
"So I think, no matter what rules we get thrown at us, I think we'll get there."
What time is the Australian Grand Prix in my state?
• 3pm AEDT: Victoria, NSW, ACT, Tasmania• 2:30pm ACDT: South Australia• 2pm: AEST: Queensland• 1.30pm ACST: Northern Territory• 12pm: AWST: Western Australia
Weekend schedule (AEDT)
• Free practice 1: 12:30pm-1:30pm, Friday, March 6• Free practice 2: 4pm-5pm, Friday March 6• Free practice 3: 12:30pm-1:30pm, Saturday, March 7• Qualifying: 4pm-5pm, Saturday March 7• Grand prix: 3pm, Sunday March 8
