Oscar Piastri's 2026 has been a slog. Two podiums through 17 rounds, outqualified by Lando Norris 11 times, and a third-place championship finish last year feeling like a distant memory. But McLaren CEO Zak Brown sees the Australian clawing back.

"I think he is," Brown said Friday in Singapore when asked if Piastri was returning to form. "I'm liking what I'm seeing out of Oscar. He's feeling more confident and on top of things."

The problem has been adaptation. The new-generation cars scrambled the field, and Piastri couldn't lean on instinct. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella noted the 25-year-old has been unable to drive "through pure instinct" in certain conditions. Piastri acknowledged the trial-and-error grind, saying solutions that worked previously "don't really seem to work this year."

Recent results hint at progress — sixth in Malaysia, fifth in Singapore. With the season winding down, McLaren's betting Piastri peaks when it counts.

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