Piastri rates McLaren fourth: 'Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull look faster'

Despite the team entering the season as defending double Constructors’ champions, and with Lando Norris having secured the Drivers’ title, radical new technical regulations have seemingly reset the competitive landscape completely. Speaking before the Australian Grand Prix, Piastri conceded that the dominance enjoyed by the Woking squad late last year has dissipated.

He noted that pre-season testing indicates Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull currently hold a distinct performance advantage over the new MCL40. While acknowledging that rapid development is standard in F1, the Australian driver remains realistic. He warned that expecting a repeat of their previous supremacy would be overly optimistic right now. Although Piastri still targets a strong result on home soil, he admits McLaren must quickly unlock significant speed to challenge their historic rivals for victory.