Piastri flags major gain F1 break could hand McLaren amid torrid campaign

The Australian, who spoke to the media during media day at the Suzuka International Circuit, noted how the five-week break between races could provide an advantage for several teams to better understand the peculiarities of the regulations and their respective cars.

“We'll see. I think it gives everybody more time to develop, more time to understand things,” Piastri explained.

Focusing on McLaren, Piastri added that the team is gradually coming to grips with several technical demands of the current regulations.

“Obviously, we're down on laps and data at the moment, unfortunately, which is a bit of a shame. But even now, we have some good ideas on how we want to improve going forward, on a lot of topics, where we want to take the car, where we need to improve our work with HPP, and all kinds of other things. I think it's just going to give everybody a bit more time to understand, and hopefully we can come out of that break a bit faster than we are now,” he concluded.

Formula 1 will embark on a five-week in-season break following the cancellation of both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix, due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The sport will resume with the Miami Grand Prix, slated for the first weekend in May.

Earlier, Lando Norris issued a bold message to the grid, stating the McLaren team remains in the hunt for titles despite the struggles experienced so far this season.

Norris drew comparisons with the team’s 2024 campaign, when they won the Constructors’ Championship at the final race of the season.

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