Azerbaijan mistake 'certainly took me by surprise' – Piastri

McLaren faced a challenging Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing without points after Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris struggled on track. Piastri, who initially fought for a podium position, suffered a race-altering lock-up into Turn 1 following a late-race restart. Despite his disappointment and finishing in P14, the Australian driver noted progress in his comfort and understanding of the car's setup, choosing to focus on the positive performance shown throughout the weekend. While the weekend proved to be a setback for McLaren's championship campaign, Piastri remains optimistic about his recent improvements in qualifying and overall race pace. He emphasized that despite the lack of a tangible result, the experience in Baku provided valuable direction for the remainder of the 2026 season.