{"id":1866537,"date":"2026-04-04T15:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T12:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1866537"},"modified":"2026-04-04T15:55:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T12:55:00","slug":"why-oscar-piastri-believes-mercedes-is-beatable-in-f1-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1866537","title":{"rendered":"Why Oscar Piastri believes Mercedes is beatable in F1 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Why Oscar Piastri believes Mercedes is beatable in F1 2026<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Oscar Piastri finished second in the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix after a safety car interuption allowed Kimi Antonelli to pass with a cheap pit stop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Sam Hall , Adam Cooper<\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:55:00+01:00\">04 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Piastri, McLaren, Antonelli, Mercedes, Japan, F1, 2026<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0XPB Images<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Oscar Piastri took significant motivation from his battle for victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, and now believes that Mercedes can be beaten this year.<\/p>\n<p>Mercedes has been the dominant force in the early stages of the 2026 season, but after a pair of one-two finishes in Australia and China, Piastri ended this streak by following Kimi Antonelli home at Suzuka.<\/p>\n<p>Piastri\u2019s belief is fuelled by the fact that he was never passed on-track by the eventual race winner, with Antonelli profiting through a fortuitously timed safety car intervention, gifting him a cheap pit stop and allowing him to leapfrog the McLaren driver.<\/p>\n<p>Asked if he left Japan thinking Mercedes are beatable, Piastri replied: \u201cYes. I think we knew from last year, or we know from last year, that even when you have the best car you still need to operate it at an incredibly high level. And I think, on our side, we did a really good job of that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I think it\u2019s interesting to see when someone else has the fastest car that it\u2019s not that straightforward. And yeah, I think the fact that I could keep George behind for so long was really encouraging.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cBut we\u2019re under no illusion. We did everything right this weekend and we still got beaten by 15 seconds, so we\u2019ve got a pretty big gap to fill. I\u2019m confident that we can get there, but yes, we\u2019ve still got some work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercedes has so far lost positions at the start of each grand prix, with Japan seeing Piastri joining the Ferrari drivers in being able to get a jump on both Russell and Antonelli \u2013 the latter dropping from first to sixth by the exit of Turn 2.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-c764878eea38eb429c1299b138284e66bf3dde95ae1896d56332decf62254bf2\">  McLaren seeing \u201cthe strongest Oscar since he\u2019s been in F1\u201d after early setbacks   Lando Norris reveals why he struggled more than Oscar Piastri in Japan <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>While Russell was able to recover to second place, he was hampered similarly to Piastri by the safety car timing, dropping him behind Charles Leclerc, whom he was unable to pass as the Ferrari driver tactically used his battery deployment.<\/p>\n<p>Playing out a scenario where the safety car had not been deployed, Piastri mused: \u201cI would have loved to have seen how it would have panned out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think I need to look back and see whether Kimi was quicker than George or similar pace. I think if he was the same pace as George then it would have been a pretty stressful afternoon because I probably would have had both of them right on my gearbox.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-f4eeaaaa101505a86f52f4d17b68dddd5a5e680060c33d30ff9f41a20d92cabd\">  Did race-altering safety car really rob Piastri of Japanese GP win?   F1 drivers \u201cat the mercy of what\u2019s behind\u201d as they\u2019re \u201cnot in control\u201d of deployment <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cBut yeah, I mean, I think once Kimi had clean air, clearly, he was a lot faster than me. So, I\u2019m not sure we would have won the race, but I certainly would have loved to have found out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">F1<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">2026<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Oscar Piastri<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">McLaren<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> F1 veteran brands energy management \u2018fun but weird and frustrating\u2019<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404700_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404700_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404700_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404700_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404700_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404700_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404700_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404700_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404700_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item next\">\n<h3> Next <\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Kimi Antonelli \u201cnot worrying\u201d about championship after taking F1 title lead, but should he?<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-a75f066bda3d490a7872532d9b0dca8d80602671536f3b56e12261f7a77868da\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/whatsapp-image-2026-03-05-at-12.30.04.jpeg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/whatsapp-image-2026-03-05-at-12.30.04.jpeg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/whatsapp-image-2026-03-05-at-12.30.04.jpeg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Sam Hall<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">F1 Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Sam joined Crash.net in February 2026 with extensive experience in motorsport media, having covered numerous championships around the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-b766047c7a1b0499f898a021ca0f41033102ce1a4b7b718dd3edf7cc48ebab25\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  Race Report <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Antonelli scores historic F1 Japanese GP win after safety car boost<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774766861\"> 29\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1404488_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Antonelli has become F1's youngest title leader\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>How costly has Lando Norris\u2019 lack of Japan F1 track time been?<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774693653\"> 28\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1403798_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Lando Norris, McLaren Racing, 2026 Japanese GP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Antonelli beats Russell to pole as Verstappen suffers Suzuka shocker<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774681670\"> 28\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1404056_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Antonelli celebrates his second F1 career pole position in Japan\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Norris already on last penalty-free battery amid more engine issues<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774674998\"> 28\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1403363_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Norris finished sixth fastest in final practice\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  Feature <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On top but is McLaren really fastest after early Suzuka promise? <\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774615133\"> 27\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/2268569108.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"McLaren knocked Mercedes off top spot in Japan\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>What caught George Russell by surprise in Japan practice<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774608988\"> 27\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/m589124_japanese_grand_prix-friday-richard_pardon.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Russell ended up third-quickest on Friday for Mercedes\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col second-column\">\n<div class=\"sticky\">\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Oscar Piastri finished second in the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix after a safety car interuption allowed Kimi Antonelli to pass with a cheap pit stop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Oscar Piastri took significant motivation from his battle for victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, and now believes that Mercedes can be beaten this year.<\/p>\n<p>Mercedes has been the dominant force in the early stages of the 2026 season, but after a pair of one-two finishes in Australia and China, Piastri ended this streak by following Kimi Antonelli home at Suzuka.<\/p>\n<p>Piastri\u2019s belief is fuelled by the fact that he was never passed on-track by the eventual race winner, with Antonelli profiting through a fortuitously timed safety car intervention, gifting him a cheap pit stop and allowing him to leapfrog the McLaren driver.<\/p>\n<p>Asked if he left Japan thinking Mercedes are beatable, Piastri replied: \u201cYes. I think we knew from last year, or we know from last year, that even when you have the best car you still need to operate it at an incredibly high level. And I think, on our side, we did a really good job of that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I think it\u2019s interesting to see when someone else has the fastest car that it\u2019s not that straightforward. And yeah, I think the fact that I could keep George behind for so long was really encouraging.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cBut we\u2019re under no illusion. We did everything right this weekend and we still got beaten by 15 seconds, so we\u2019ve got a pretty big gap to fill. I\u2019m confident that we can get there, but yes, we\u2019ve still got some work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercedes has so far lost positions at the start of each grand prix, with Japan seeing Piastri joining the Ferrari drivers in being able to get a jump on both Russell and Antonelli \u2013 the latter dropping from first to sixth by the exit of Turn 2.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-c764878eea38eb429c1299b138284e66bf3dde95ae1896d56332decf62254bf2\">  McLaren seeing \u201cthe strongest Oscar since he\u2019s been in F1\u201d after early setbacks   Lando Norris reveals why he struggled more than Oscar Piastri in Japan <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>While Russell was able to recover to second place, he was hampered similarly to Piastri by the safety car timing, dropping him behind Charles Leclerc, whom he was unable to pass as the Ferrari driver tactically used his battery deployment.<\/p>\n<p>Playing out a scenario where the safety car had not been deployed, Piastri mused: \u201cI would have loved to have seen how it would have panned out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think I need to look back and see whether Kimi was quicker than George or similar pace. I think if he was the same pace as George then it would have been a pretty stressful afternoon because I probably would have had both of them right on my gearbox.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-f4eeaaaa101505a86f52f4d17b68dddd5a5e680060c33d30ff9f41a20d92cabd\">  Did race-altering safety car really rob Piastri of Japanese GP win?   F1 drivers \u201cat the mercy of what\u2019s behind\u201d as they\u2019re \u201cnot in control\u201d of deployment <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cBut yeah, I mean, I think once Kimi had clean air, clearly, he was a lot faster than me. So, I\u2019m not sure we would have won the race, but I certainly would have loved to have found out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Oscar Piastri took significant motivation from his battle for victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, and now believes that Mercedes can be beaten this year.<\/p>\n<p>Mercedes has been the dominant force in the early stages of the 2026 season, but after a pair of one-two finishes in Australia and China, Piastri ended this streak by following Kimi Antonelli home at Suzuka.<\/p>\n<p>Piastri\u2019s belief is fuelled by the fact that he was never passed on-track by the eventual race winner, with Antonelli profiting through a fortuitously timed safety car intervention, gifting him a cheap pit stop and allowing him to leapfrog the McLaren driver.<\/p>\n<p>Asked if he left Japan thinking Mercedes are beatable, Piastri replied: \u201cYes. I think we knew from last year, or we know from last year, that even when you have the best car you still need to operate it at an incredibly high level. And I think, on our side, we did a really good job of that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I think it\u2019s interesting to see when someone else has the fastest car that it\u2019s not that straightforward. And yeah, I think the fact that I could keep George behind for so long was really encouraging.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cBut we\u2019re under no illusion. We did everything right this weekend and we still got beaten by 15 seconds, so we\u2019ve got a pretty big gap to fill. I\u2019m confident that we can get there, but yes, we\u2019ve still got some work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercedes has so far lost positions at the start of each grand prix, with Japan seeing Piastri joining the Ferrari drivers in being able to get a jump on both Russell and Antonelli \u2013 the latter dropping from first to sixth by the exit of Turn 2.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-c764878eea38eb429c1299b138284e66bf3dde95ae1896d56332decf62254bf2\">  McLaren seeing \u201cthe strongest Oscar since he\u2019s been in F1\u201d after early setbacks   Lando Norris reveals why he struggled more than Oscar Piastri in Japan <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>While Russell was able to recover to second place, he was hampered similarly to Piastri by the safety car timing, dropping him behind Charles Leclerc, whom he was unable to pass as the Ferrari driver tactically used his battery deployment.<\/p>\n<p>Playing out a scenario where the safety car had not been deployed, Piastri mused: \u201cI would have loved to have seen how it would have panned out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think I need to look back and see whether Kimi was quicker than George or similar pace. I think if he was the same pace as George then it would have been a pretty stressful afternoon because I probably would have had both of them right on my gearbox.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-f4eeaaaa101505a86f52f4d17b68dddd5a5e680060c33d30ff9f41a20d92cabd\">  Did race-altering safety car really rob Piastri of Japanese GP win?   F1 drivers \u201cat the mercy of what\u2019s behind\u201d as they\u2019re \u201cnot in control\u201d of deployment <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cBut yeah, I mean, I think once Kimi had clean air, clearly, he was a lot faster than me. So, I\u2019m not sure we would have won the race, but I certainly would have loved to have found out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/f1\/news\/1092869\/1\/why-oscar-piastri-believes-mercedes-beatable-f1-2026&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404161_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Why Oscar Piastri believes Mercedes is beatable in F1 2026 Oscar Piastri finished second in the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix after a safety car interuption allowed Kimi Antonelli to pass with a cheap pit stop. Sam Hall , Adam Cooper 04 Apr 2026 Share Piastri, McLaren, Antonelli, Mercedes, Japan, F1, 2026 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1866537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1866537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1866537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1866537\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1866537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1866537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1866537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}