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Piastri demands change amid 'pretty crazy' F1 reality
SEN • May 5th, 2026 11:57 am
Oscar Piastri | Photo: James Ross/AAP
Formula One drivers – including Oscar Piastri - are calling for more immediate changes to the sport amid widespread dissatisfaction.
After a five-week hiatus after two Grands Prix were cancelled because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, racing resumed in Miami last weekend.
With hopes high that alterations to the cars and fresh regulations to address the safety concerns and driver frustrations would ease the criticism being laid at the sport, the consensus was to the contrary and that long-term discontent remains.
McLaren driver Lando Norris, who earlier this season said the current cars were the "worst ever made", insists that the only fix is to “get rid of the battery”.
“It’s a small step in the right direction but it’s not to the level that Formula One should still be at yet,” the reigning world champion said. “If you go flat out everywhere and you try pushing like you were in previous years you still just get penalised for it.
“You still can’t be flat out everywhere. You should never get penalised for that kind of thing and you still do.
“Honestly, I don’t really think you can fix that. You just have to get rid of the battery. So hopefully in a few years, that’s the case.”
Kimi Antonelli made history in Miami becoming only the third driver to claim his first three victories in the sport in consecutive races.
The Mercedes driver shared the podium with Norris and Piastri and while the Australian was pleased to have turned a near disastrous qualifying session around, he echoed his teammate’s sentiments when it comes to saving the sport’s credibility and appeal.
“The collaboration again from the FIA and F1 has been good, but there’s only so many things you can change with the hardware we have,” Piastri said.
“The races are exactly the same. Today was my first proper experience of overtaking people and having to defend…it’s pretty crazy, to be honest.
“It’s a bit random, all the closing speeds are huge. Trying to anticipate that as the defending driver is incredibly tough to do.
“I wasn’t that pleased with one the moves George did but I found myself almost doing the same move five laps later, just because the closing speed is enormous.
“From that side of things, not much has changed. Some changes in the future are still needed for sure.”
The McLaren duo are not the only drivers to voice their concerns.
Earlier this season, four-time world champion Max Verstappen likened being on track to playing video games.
“It’s a joke. I’d say the same thing if I won. If anyone actually finds this fun, then they don’t understand what racing is all about,” he said.
“It’s playing Mario Kart. This is not racing.”
F1 now has another three week break before racing resumes in Canada.
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