McLaren supports Piastri as the downturn worsens.

      "We’ve incorporated new tools into his arsenal."

      Andrea Stella asserts that Oscar Piastri’s recent decline in performance is not due to any car issues, despite speculation regarding the potential faults in the Australian’s chassis. "All evidence and data suggest there are no problems with the car," the McLaren team principal told journalists after Piastri finished only P5 in Mexico, amid his recent performance downturn. "We have no reason to think otherwise," Stella stated. "In the history of F1, there are discussions about swapping chassis, but I would prefer to replace other parts - the floor, the front wing. Components naturally rotate, and we are confident that nothing is amiss."

      Stella noted that the main challenge lies in Piastri's adaptation to the unique conditions of the circuit. "It’s not purely about confidence; it’s the situation here in Mexico," he elaborated. "Oscar still needs to adjust his driving style a little."

      "We’ve incorporated new tools into his arsenal, and he learns quickly. It’s unfortunate that we faced traffic - it was about managing the damage."

      Piastri openly acknowledges his struggle to regain the rhythm that characterized his early-season success and is perplexed as to the reasons. "I’ve had to make adjustments over the past few weekends," he remarked. "When your driving style has been effective for 18 races, it’s tough to comprehend why it suddenly isn’t."

      "On Saturday, it became evident I needed to modify a few things," continued Piastri, who qualified in eighth place. "The race was about learning and minimizing the impact - but when your teammate wins and you're fifth, it’s not ideal."

      He dismissed suggestions of diminished confidence or fraying nerves. "No, I just needed to drive differently - or perhaps I’m not adjusting my driving enough," he said. "That was hard for me to process. The tyres required a different approach. The car hasn’t changed - Lando has probably found it easier to adapt. I just need to regain that control."

      Ralf Schumacher believes that the mental balance has shifted since mid-season, when Piastri was referred to as "ice boy" and doubts about Norris' mental strength arose. "Zandvoort was definitely a pivotal moment for Norris," he commented. "He understood that he could be faster if he stayed relaxed. I think he has now developed his own training routine that benefits him."