Oscar Piastri could become a major talking point in the F1 driver market this season if things don’t go to plan at McLaren. McLaren are hoping to stay on top heading into 2026, despite the sport’s major regulatory overhaul.
Oscar Piastri could become a major talking point in the F1 driver market this season if things don’t go to plan at McLaren.
McLaren are hoping to stay on top heading into 2026, despite the sport’s major regulatory overhaul.
Despite holding onto the drivers’ championship lead for most of last season, Oscar Piastri won’t be sporting the number one plate this year. That distinction goes to Lando Norris, who edged out both his teammate and Max Verstappen in a tight title fight.
Piastri’s long-term contract with McLaren offers some stability, but nothing is ever guaranteed in Formula 1. There’s already been talk of him being an ideal fit to replace Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin come 2027.
And now, there are early suggestions about what team principal Andrea Stella needs to do if he wants to keep hold of Piastri beyond this season.
Mika Hakkinen weighs in on what it’ll take to keep Oscar Piastri at McLaren
Mika Hakkinen believes keeping Oscar Piastri happy is key for McLaren. The team started well last year but couldn’t maintain their lead through the full season as other teams caught up later on. Heading into this year, there’s plenty of speculation that Red Bull will make a strong comeback under new regulations.
Piastri has always made it clear that his priority is competing for race wins and championships. If Red Bull look like serious contenders again and Lando Norris manages a repeat title win, McLaren could face real pressure to deliver something substantial early in the campaign to convince Piastri they’re still the right place for him.
Andrea Stella’s papaya rules could cost McLaren Oscar Piastri
Piastri finished 13 points short of Norris in the 2025 drivers’ standings, staying in the hunt right up to the final round.
He made an early move on Norris but couldn’t catch Verstappen and was willing to play a team role if it meant helping his teammate secure the title.
According to Blick, there are more developments regarding where the 24-year-old could end up next.
Piastri will be out for revenge this year, but whether that happens will depend heavily on McLaren’s aerodynamic setup and how much power Mercedes can bring to the table.
The report adds that if those same ‘papaya rules’ get in his way again, Piastri could be gone by 2027.
In terms of pure numbers, Piastri is building an impressive career profile. Through 70 Grand Prix starts, he’s already collected nine wins, six pole positions and finished on the podium nearly 40% of the time.
Which F1 teams might be interested in Oscar Piastri if he decides to move on from McLaren?
If Piastri were to leave McLaren, there would be no shortage of interest from other teams across the grid.
Right now, he seems content with how things are set up internally at McLaren, but it’s still early days and that could change as the season progresses.
Aston Martin has already been mentioned as a potential fit, especially if Alonso steps away from the sport. It wouldn’t be a surprising move given their ambitions and resources.
Piastri would likely back himself as the number one driver at Adrian Newey’s team ahead of Lance Stroll. With Newey’s design pedigree and Honda power behind them, Aston Martin could become a real threat in the coming seasons.
Red Bull and Ferrari could also come into play if either Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc decided to make a change. And even beyond the top teams, there are several midfield outfits that would jump at the chance to bring someone of Piastri’s calibre on board.
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Category: General Sports
