Oscar Piastri tempers expectations on McLaren's upgrades at Miami GP
Photo: Race Pictures
20:40, 01 May
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Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Oscar Piastri has tempered expectations surrounding the extensive upgrade package brought by McLaren to this weekend's Miami GP. The Aussie has said while he hopes to be faster in the US, "it's not going to be enough to challenge Mercedes this weekend."
McLaren have had a slow start to the season, with the papaya team suffering a double DNS in Shanghai due to separate power unit issues for Piastri and teammate Lando Norris.
But a promising P2 finish for the Aussie in Suzuka - where he was unlucky not to beat Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli for the win - as well as a "completely new car" teased for the Miami GP have many fans wondering whether the Woking-based squad can take the fight to the Silver Arrows.
Piastri, however, has poured cold water on that expectation, highlighting that McLaren's rivals will also bring changes after F1's five-week break - Ferrari, for instance, bring 11 upgrades to Miami.
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Speaking to media, including GPblog, in Miami, the 25-year-old was asked on what he expects from his team's upgrades this weekend. He said: "I think hopefully we’ll be faster. Obviously, that’s the plan. We’ll have to wait and see where exactly we come out. I think it’s, again, a step in the right direction for us.
"It’s not going to be enough to challenge Mercedes this weekend, I don’t think, but it’s definitely in the right direction. Obviously, we’re expecting a lot of other teams to bring upgrades as well, so hopefully ours are better than theirs.
"That’s the plan. But I think the motivation and the confidence in the team at the moment is high. I think we’re on a good trajectory again. And I think Japan was nice to go into the break with a bit of confidence in showing our potential and hopefully we’ve just added to that now. So hopefully it’s a good step forward."
Piastri echoes call for hardware changes: 'Can't fix problems without that'
Photo: Race Pictures
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Piastri also had his say on the new 2026 rules coming into effect at the Miami race, arguing that while driver collaboration and the tweaks themselves have been a step in the right direction, larger issues still need to be addressed.
He said: "Yeah, I think the collaboration’s been good and trying to make changes, I think they’re a step in the right direction. How far they go to helping the problems, you’re never going to fix the problems without changing the hardware of the power units, but I think it’s a step in the right direction.
"How much it helps, we’ll have to wait and see. But certainly, some of the tweaks are a good step forward, which is good to see."
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Miami Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 01.05.26
Practice 1
04:00 PM
Sprint Qualification
08:30 PM
Saturday 02.05.26
Sprint Race
04:00 PM
Qualification
08:00 PM
Sunday 03.05.26
Race
08:00 PM
Friday 01.05.26
Practice 1
Fri 04:00 PM
Sprint Qualification
Fri 08:30 PM
Saturday 02.05.26
Sprint Race
Sat 04:00 PM
Qualification
Sat 08:00 PM
Sunday 03.05.26
Race
Sun 08:00 PM
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