Oscar Piastri revealed that McLaren are "getting a little bit more optimistic" ahead of the 2026 Formula One season following the end of pre-season testing.

The final session in Bahrain ended on Friday, with Piastri completing 66 laps on the last day and posting the third-fastest time.

This was the second testing event in Bahrain and the third overall after the first shakedown in Barcelona, with drivers getting to grips with their new cars before the season gets underway on March 8 in Australia.

Mercedes have been tipped as one of the stronger performers in pre-season, but Piastri believes McLaren are growing stronger ahead of his home Grand Prix.

"I think we're probably getting a little bit more optimistic," said Piastri.

"The testing's gone smoothly for us at least. We've been able to get a lot of laps in, learn a lot of things, both good and bad.

"I think we've got some good ideas and good directions, especially with such a big change in the rules – you're going to try a lot of bad things alongside the good things.

"I think finding out anything you can before Round 1 is always important, so I feel like we're making good progress.

"I wouldn't say we're leading the pack by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel like we're not too bad."

The MCL40 has officially completed its desert debut #McLarenF1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/GgR4zd394L

— McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team (@McLarenF1) February 20, 2026

The sport has undergone some of its biggest changes between the 2025 and 2026 campaigns, with new rules introduced regarding the engines, chassis, tyres and fuel.

The opinions of drivers have been very split so far, and Piastri expressed his feelings about the new cars.

"I think it's definitely been a learning curve, and there's still some things that we need to do as drivers that are certainly very different to what we had to do last year," said the 24-year-old.

"But I think the kind of optimisation around driving that way, as drivers, I think we're getting our heads around the new things we need to do, and as teams making accommodations for having to drive a certain way now.

"I think it has improved – it still is very different to what we had before, but I think, naturally, we've all found performance and with performance, it's made some creature comforts a little bit nicer as well.

"I think we are making progress – let's see what Melbourne's like."