‘Love-hate’: Struggling Piastri returns to scene of heartbreak and triumph

Oscar Piastri says he’s looking forward to the next intriguing chapter of his “love-hate” relationship with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as he targets a different run of results compared to last year’s end-of-season collapse.

It was on the Baku street circuit in 2024 that the Australian enjoyed one of his finest wins in Formula 1, but last year’s edition brought him down to earth with a spectacular bump when he appeared to be flying to the drivers’ title.

It may be illusory, but it feels as if the Victorian has never been quite the same driver since his 2025 calamity when, leading the drivers’ championship by 31 points, he endured his weekend from hell, hitting the wall in qualifying, then jumping the gun in the race itself before stalling and eventually crashing once more.

It was the prelude to a miserable run as teammate Lando Norris snatched the title, and he’s seemingly been struggling to get to grips with his 2026 McLaren MCL40 this year too.

He’s lying seventh in the drivers’ championship and coming off a dispiriting eighth place at the Spanish Grand Prix, yet he’s still publicly putting on a brave face while sitting 66 points adrift of fourth-placed Norris.

Asked to describe his relationship with the Baku track, Piastri admitted on Wednesday: “Love-hate in some ways.

“I think probably my best race ever has been at this track – and probably my worst race ever has been at this track. So, always eventful.

“It’s always a big confidence track, and obviously, you need to push the limits a lot. It’s quite a rare combination of a street circuit with so many massive braking zones. So yeah, it’s an interesting track, but hopefully this year is more like 2024.”

Piastri, who’s had no wins and only two podium finishes in 2026, was asked if he felt he was turning a corner with his McLaren, to which he responded: “A little bit, yes.

“The progress isn’t linear. You’re always going to find some things that work, go down some paths that don’t work.

“We’re still very much kind of in that phase at the moment. I think last weekend in Madrid the car was quick eventually, but again very, very difficult to get the lap time out of it ... but I feel like we’re making progress and at least exploring different things. Some are working, some aren’t.

“But we’re not standing still, which is the most important thing.”

It sounded as if Piastri feels McLaren are investing more engineering resources behind him as he agreed: “Yes, I’ve definitely felt that we’re throwing everything we can at trying to improve, which has been good.

“Again, there’s only so many things you can do without just jumping in the car and trying stuff.

“I feel like it’s been a very good team response in trying to improve things as quickly as we can and feel like I’m being well supported.”

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.