Piastri hopes to ‘at least see the lights come on’ in Japan

Oscar Piastri has reflected on his frustrating start to the 2026 season, which saw him retire before the race start in both Australia and China due to accidents and technical failures. The McLaren driver admits the double DNS was disappointing but is choosing to focus on learning rather than dwelling on the negatives. Looking ahead to the Japanese Grand Prix, Piastri is determined to finally get a clean start and demonstrate his pace. He remains positive about his qualifying performance and overall adaptation to the new car and regulations, noting that while the team currently sits behind Mercedes and Ferrari in the hierarchy, he is eager to translate his practice and preparation into a competitive race performance.