"It's going to take a while to get used to driving these cars," claims Piastri
Reflecting on McLaren's performance during the opening pre-season testing in Bahrain, Oscar Piastri claimed that "it's going to take a while to get used to driving these cars
McLaren closed out the opening three‑day pre‑season test in Bahrain with another day of heavy mileage, as Oscar Piastri completed an impressive 161 laps in the MCL40 on Day 3.
It marked the second consecutive day that a McLaren driver topped the lap charts, reinforcing the team’s focus on reliability, consistency, and data gathering during this crucial early phase of the season.
Piastri’s programme on the final day mirrored the structured approach McLaren has taken throughout the test. The morning was dedicated to aerodynamic evaluation, with the Australian running aero rakes and performing repeated data‑gathering laps to help the team refine its understanding of the MCL40’s airflow characteristics.
The afternoon shifted toward race‑focused work, including long‑run simulations and overtaking practice. These laps offered Piastri valuable insight into how the car behaves in traffic and how tyre management evolves over extended stints — essential preparation for the season ahead.
Reflecting on his final day, Piastri struck a positive but grounded tone, acknowledging both the progress made and the learning still ahead.
“A productive first week of testing done. The car ran well and we've learned a lot about what it likes and what it doesn't like. It's going to take a while to get used to driving these cars and how to get the most out of them, so there’s still a lot to learn.
"I am looking forward to getting back out there next week and keeping this learning going. A big thanks to the team for their work which has meant we've been able to get a lot of laps on the board and maximise our programme.”
