"Progressing gradually" – Oscar Piastri discusses the path to overcoming McLaren's car challenges.

"I definitely have to adapt my driving style much more than I used to," he shared with media including Motorsport.com in Mexico City.

"It's been quite a challenge, undoubtedly. I think we will find a solution.

"We have to figure it out in the coming months. Ideally, it's not years, but there are fundamental characteristics of these cars that aren't going to change.

"It has been a tough journey, but there have been positive indicators. Austin was certainly a bit of a setback, but sometimes you need to take two steps forward and one step back to find your footing and experiment. So, I believe the triple header before Austin was a very positive step in the right direction, but there's still more progress to be made.

"We have more components on the way, but both of us [he and Lando Norris] are currently grappling with a car that is highly sensitive to various factors, not just bumps. The required driving style is quite specific and falls within a narrow window. So, when additional challenges arise, like bumps or windy conditions, it only complicates matters.

"The car is indeed faster now than it was before Austin, but our competitors are also very quick, so we recognize that we still need to catch up."

McLaren is still trying to understand the performance of its latest update, which included a new front suspension geometry

Last year, Piastri's title challenge faltered during the final stretch of races on low-grip tracks that favored the more adaptable driving style of teammate Lando Norris – while Piastri typically requires a rhythm to build from lap to lap, relying on more consistent feedback from the car. Although McLaren's MCL40 began this year trailing key rivals like Mercedes in terms of downforce efficiency and performance in slow corners, aerodynamic enhancements positioned it as arguably the best car in fast corners midway through the season.

However, performance in slow corners and the car's overall edginess have remained challenging issues to resolve. Both drivers have characterized the car as one that demands aggressive driving to unlock performance, yet it has an unsettling tendency to respond unpredictably.

"I think it’s a mix of several factors," Piastri said when asked by Motorsport.com if the car's sensitivity stems from the characteristics of the Mercedes power unit, design choices like suspension geometry and aerodynamics, or if it is a result of new regulations enforcing narrower cars with reduced downforce.

"The reduced downforce certainly doesn’t help. I think tyres play a role as well.

We've observed many races this year where the soft tyres have performed very well, even during the race. Overall, races have leaned more towards a qualifying driving style compared to previous years, without a doubt. Everything indicates that more aggressive driving is necessary.

"Navigating that fine line is extremely challenging. If it's a McLaren-specific issue, we will find out next year. But I believe multiple factors contribute to this situation.

Tyres that were developed based on last year's cars with certain compromises made – I think next year's tyres will be somewhat different, to put it mildly, or they've certainly conducted significantly more testing on representative cars. So, let's see if there are changes. But I think it arises from various areas, which all add up."

In Mexico City last year Piastri finished fifth from eighth on the grid, losing the world championship lead to McLaren team-mate Lando Norris

While Piastri has long been out of the drivers' championship contention, and Norris also dropped out last weekend, McLaren is in a battle to maintain its third position in the financially rewarding constructors' standings. The team is currently tied on 355 points with Red Bull but sits fourth due to Red Bull having secured more race victories, including the Singapore sprint event.

In addition to this, comprehending the latest upgrade package during the final races should assist McLaren in refining its 2027 car, which has been the primary focus since this upgrade package was approved for production in early autumn.

"Clearly, we want to stay ahead of Red Bull in the constructors' championship," Piastri stated.

"Moreover, every bit of knowledge gained is crucial for next year, and I hope we can develop a car capable of competing for a championship again. I want to enter next year with as many answers as possible and as many tools in my toolkit as I can.

"So that’s my main motivation, because for me personally, there’s not a great deal to compete for at this point – but in terms of future outcomes, this is a vital period."