Australian media again questioned McLaren’s treatment of Oscar Piastri following his defeat in the 2025 Formula 1 title fight.

Piastri finished third in the championship after Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Lando Norris sealed his first World Championship.

In Australia, the belief that McLaren favour Norris has circulated for some time and even reached the Australian Senate. Speaking to outlets including 9News Australia, Piastri thanked fans for their support and said the team would “go again next year.”

After the report, the studio presenter added, “Let’s hope Oscar can do it next year… if McLaren don’t work against him,” renewing the suggestion of internal bias. The comment echoed previous criticism from Australian media regarding the perceived imbalance within the team.

Formula One will conduct a private four-day test of the 2026 cars in Barcelona between 26 and 30 January, ahead of the two three-day pre-season sessions scheduled in Bahrain from 11–13 and 18–20 February.

The early test was agreed due to the scale of the technical overhaul, which includes active aerodynamics and power units delivering 50% electrical energy.

Max Verstappen told Blick that teams should expect limited track time at the January test, saying drivers will “probably spend more time waiting in the pits than sitting in the car.”

The behind-closed-doors running will mark the first time the new-generation cars appear on track. The additional testing is intended to help teams address reliability issues and system complexity before the 2026 season opener in Australia.

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