Stella shoots down speculation over Piastri’s form slump

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has moved to quash speculation that a technical gremlin could be causing Oscar Piastri’s sudden drop in form, insisting there is “no evidence” of any fault lurking beneath the Australian’s MCL39.

The thin air of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, perched high above sea level, has always posed unique challenges for Formula 1 drivers. But for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Saturday’s qualifying session for the Mexico City Grand Prix turned into a baffling enigma.

The championship leader found himself in Q3 a staggering six-tenths of a second adrift of teammate Lando Norris, who claimed pole position.

Piastri, visibly puzzled, called the time deficit “a mystery”. But Stella was unequivocal in dismissing any suggestion that the answer lies in the machinery.

“Every evidence, every piece of data, every indirect measurement or information we have tells us that there is no problem with the car, and we have no reason to suspect that's the case,” the McLaren chief told reporters after Saturday’s session.

No Need for a Chassis Change

As questions swirled about whether McLaren might consider swapping Piastri’s chassis ahead of next month’s race in São Paulo, Stella poured cold water on the idea.

“I know that in the history of Formula 1, there is this topic of changing the chassis, but I would change other components than the chassis, like the floor, the front wing,” he explained.

“In reality, there's a rotation of parts. It's not like there are always the same parts on the car, so we have reasons to be reassured that there's no problem with the car.

“These are very, very unique conditions [in Mexico City, with the high altitude], and once you get the familiarity with what you have to do and what you have to feel, then you start to gain in every single corner, and then you can cash in quite a lot of lap time.

“So no concern with the car, and I'm sure Oscar will capitalise from the learning [in qualifying].”

Despite the risk of losing his championship lead if Norris outscores him by 15 points on Sunday, Stella insisted that Piastri’s challenge lies not in faulty equipment but in adapting to Mexico’s tricky, low-grip conditions.

A Calibration Exercise

When pressed to explain Piastri’s so-called “mystery,” Stella offered a more nuanced view – framing the gap as part of a driver learning process, rather than a car-related problem.

“The fastest car is also a car that needs to be driven in a certain way, especially when you have conditions like here, and to some extent in Austin [last weekend's United States GP], with hot Tarmac, sliding tyres,” said Stella.

“And the way in which you generate lap time is a way that comes relatively naturally for Lando, and less naturally for Oscar.”

Piastri, despite his championship lead, is still lacking experience, not yet through his third season in Formula 1. Stella highlighted this, noting that the Australian excels in high-grip conditions where he can unleash his “incredible talent.”

In Mexico’s slippery conditions, however, the Aussie is still learning the ropes to a certain extent.

“Lando is a driver going on low grip, end of the stint, when the tyres are quite worn, used, the grip is low, and we see green sector, green sector, green sector,” Stella Explained.

“Oscar, instead, is more of a driver of high grip, and that's where he can exploit his incredible talent.

• Read also: Piastri admits pace deficit in Mexico qualifying ‘a bit of a mystery

“At the same time, don't forget that while we talk about the leader in the drivers' championship, he's not even finished his third season in Formula 1.

“So, experiencing situations like we have here and in Austin is how you calibrate yourself as a driver. Oscar, every session, is learning a little bit as to what you need to do, what you need to feel, to say I'm fast now in these specific conditions, which, conversely, are more natural conditions for Lando.

“So, nothing to worry [about]. It's more of a calibration exercise for Oscar.

“I'm sure this calibration will pay off [in the race], and in any future event in which the regime in which the tyre and the car interact with the Tarmac is similar to here in Mexico, and like it was in Austin last week.”

For now, Stella’s faith in his driver and his car remains resolute, setting the stage for a gripping showdown in the heart of Mexico City.

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