Sports · Motorsport · 18 hrs ago
Piastri says McLaren faces tough fight with Red Bull for third
McLaren is fighting Red Bull for third place in Formula 1’s constructors’ standings after losing its chance to defend the title.
The teams are level on 355 points before the Mexico City Grand Prix, but Red Bull ranks ahead on countback, based on its greater number of second-place finishes.
Piastri says Red Bull has been more consistently competitive, making it difficult for McLaren to finish ahead.
McLaren needs more performance from its car, and Piastri says upgrades are still planned, though reliability problems could also affect the standings.
Piastri has gone 14 races without a podium, while teammate Lando Norris has generally been faster in recent races.
The Mexico City circuit may suit the 2026 power units, but the effect of the city’s altitude is uncertain.
The Mexico City Grand Prix is McLaren’s next chance to improve its position, with practice due to begin on Saturday morning, Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
Oscar Piastri says McLaren faces a tough fight with Red Bull for third in the constructors’ championship.
McLaren and Red Bull are level on 355 points going into the Mexico City Grand Prix, but Red Bull is third on countback.
McLaren has already been mathematically ruled out of defending its constructors’ title.
Piastri says Red Bull is more consistently competitive, though McLaren is still adding performance to its car.
Piastri has gone 14 consecutive grands prix without a podium finish.
- Who
- Oscar Piastri and McLaren are trying to stay ahead of Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.
- What
- Piastri says it will be a major challenge for McLaren to secure third place.
- When
- Ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix in 2026.
- Where
- The constructors’ championship; the next race is at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.
- Why
- Red Bull is currently more consistently competitive, according to Piastri.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
McLaren was mathematically eliminated from defending its constructors’ title after the United States Grand Prix.
McLaren and Red Bull were level on 355 points, with Red Bull third on countback.
Piastri arrived after 14 consecutive grands prix without a podium finish.
- Championship points
- McLaren and Red Bull each had 355 points.
- Standings
- Red Bull was third on countback; McLaren was fourth.
- Countback record
- Red Bull had four second-place finishes, compared with McLaren’s two.
- Piastri podium drought
- 14 consecutive grands prix.
- Next race
- Mexico City Grand Prix.
3 sources
What people are saying
But I think for us it’s going to be a big challenge to stay ahead of Red Bull.
You just have to keep fighting.
It was slow. I don't have any more than that at the moment.