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McLaren’s new COTA upgrades could fix the key problem that wrecked Oscar Piastri’s recent races

Oscar Piastri has been struggling to get the most out of his McLaren MCL40 in recent races but upgrades brought to Austin could change that.…

F1 Oversteer

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 9:00 AM

Key Things to Know

McLaren is introducing technical upgrades at COTA aimed at resolving critical braking issues affecting Oscar Piastri.
Chief technical officer Rob Marshall confirmed modest upgrades targeting braking reliability and minor floor modifications.
Piastri previously suffered brake problems at Monza and locked up in Baku due to car issues.

The Story in 60 Seconds

McLaren is introducing new car upgrades at the United States Grand Prix in Austin designed to resolve braking reliability and performance issues that have hampered Oscar Piastri. Chief technical officer Rob Marshall confirmed the team is bringing updates alongside floor adjustments to steady the MCL40 at the Circuit of the Americas following recent competitive struggles.

Piastri has suffered costly braking setbacks in recent races, including problems at Monza and a lock-up in Baku that team principal Andrea Stella admitted McLaren was responsible for. McLaren hopes these targeted technical fixes will help the Australian driver adapt to the regulations and finish the season strongly.

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