Oscar Piastri says drivers must chase ‘not obvious’ data to nail qualifying laps under new rules

Oscar Piastri says the new 2026 F1 cars have forced a radical shift in qualifying strategy. Drivers now have to chase data points that aren’t obvious—throttle‑on timing, corner‑specific battery response and brake‑later windows—to squeeze a lap out of a car that rewards lift‑and‑coast over flat‑out aggression.

Why it matters:

• Qualifying sets the grid and is a marquee showdown for fans; any rule that penalises pure speed reshapes race strategy.
• Teams that master the hidden data will gain a competitive edge, while those stuck on traditional “full‑throttle” instincts will fall behind.

The details:

• Energy‑harvest cap – Currently 8 MJ per lap, set to drop to 7 MJ at the Miami GP, reducing the amount of boost drivers can pull.
• Lift‑and‑coast – Drivers must lift off the throttle in sections to stay within the energy budget, then re‑apply power strategically.
• Battery behavior – The unit reacts differently corner‑by‑corner; a corner that was “full‑throttle” under the old rules now demands a precise throttle‑on point to avoid power loss.
• Brake timing – Piastri is experimenting with later braking zones to maximise entry speed without overshooting the energy limit.
• Trial‑and‑error – “It’s taxing because it’s not just feeling the tyres; we’re hunting for data we’ve never needed before,” Piastri said after qualifying fifth in Australia and Japan.
• Recent results – The Australian’s consistent top‑five qualifying (5th in Australia, 5th in China sprint, 5th in China GP, 3rd in Japan) shows the approach can work, but it’s energy‑intensive.

What’s next:

• Miami rule tweak – Reducing the harvest limit to 7 MJ should cut the need for aggressive lift‑and‑coast, letting drivers stay closer to the limit.
• Piastri’s outlook – He hopes the change will let teams focus more on car performance and less on “hidden” data gymnastics.
• Long‑term impact – If the tweak eases qualifying, the sport may see a return to flat‑out laps, restoring one of the classic thrills for drivers and fans alike.