Australian Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri has reiterated that he has no intention of using the alternative suspension components introduced by McLaren in recent weeks—parts that have notably enhanced the performance of his teammate Lando Norris. Despite their apparent effectiveness, especially in cornering and front-end stability, Piastri remains unconvinced that they suit his driving style. Instead, he is placing his trust in other aerodynamic upgrades, including McLaren’s newly developed floor, which is set to make its full race debut at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit during the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri arrives at Spa-Francorchamps as the current leader of the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship. However, his margin over teammate Lando Norris has significantly narrowed following Norris’ commanding victory at the British Grand Prix, held at Silverstone. Only eight points now separate the two McLaren drivers—a slim advantage considering that nearly half the championship season still remains.
In recent races, Norris has benefitted from updates introduced by McLaren, particularly a new suspension component designed to enhance front-end responsiveness. While the changes have helped the British driver feel more at ease with the car’s behavior through corners, Oscar Piastri has chosen not to adopt this component, as he believes it does not offer him a personal performance advantage.
“We’re not running any new suspension this weekend. There are no updates in that area,” said the Australian driver upon arrival in Belgium. “We do have some other updates on the car, though,” he confirmed.
Among the new elements that Piastri and the team will use in Belgium is the updated floor design, which was previously tested during free practice sessions at Silverstone earlier this month.
“We tried the new floor at Silverstone and everything went well. I think one of our strengths has been introducing upgrades that actually work straight out of the box,” said Piastri. “I’m not expecting any issues with it.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella offered further insight into the development process: “The plan was always to do an initial test with this new floor specification,” he explained. “Returning to the old floor was not a sign of dissatisfaction, but rather a deliberate step in our evaluation process.”
With the Belgian Grand Prix featuring a sprint race format, Stella acknowledged the challenges involved in introducing significant upgrades during such weekends: “Sprint weekends make it harder to introduce and properly assess a new specification, but the data we collected at Silverstone was very encouraging. Everything indicates that the new floor can be introduced regularly in the coming races.”
As for the much-discussed suspension component—which has been particularly helpful to Lando Norris due to the enhanced front-end feel—Oscar Piastri once again clarified his stance. Despite testing it in the simulator, the Australian is standing by his decision not to use it.
“I think this is the fifth time I’ve explained it, but it’s not an upgrade,” Piastri emphasized. “It’s just a different component. I’ve tried it in the simulator. We still have other upgrades coming, and I want to have as complete a picture as possible before making a final judgment.”
“It’s a minor change, as I’ve said before,” he added. “It might help in some ways, yes. But it also makes certain things worse. If it were purely a performance gain, I would’ve adopted it without hesitation. But that’s not the case here.”
Ultimately, Piastri remains focused on consistency and understanding how each development affects the car’s overall behavior. As the championship battle between the two McLaren drivers intensifies, every technical decision could prove critical in shaping the outcome of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
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