Follow us on Google Discover McLaren are desperate to keep their Formula 1 driver line-up of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri together. But recent rumours suggest that Piastri may be exploring the market.
Piastri and Norris have just become the first McLaren teammates to deliver successive constructors’ titles since Gerhard Berger and Ayrton Senna in 1990 and 1991. They have done so in historic fashion, scoring 12 wins and 28 podiums in 18 races.
McLaren have repeatedly insisted that they have two ‘number one’ drivers. But one can see how Piastri, looking at the dominance of Max Verstappen at Red Bull or George Russell at Mercedes, may want to be an outright team leader.
CATEGORYVOLUMEMCLAREN RANKRaces6412thWins9=6thPoles59thPodiums249thPoints7254thOscar Piastri’s McLaren career so far
Piastri signed a new contract with McLaren at the start of the year, one that runs until the end of 2028. Still, it’s significant that there are even whispers about the championship leader considering his options.
Oscar Piastri links to Ferrari may be designed to put pressure on McLaren
The first stories have seen Piastri linked to Ferrari, who could have a vacancy at the end of 2026 if Lewis Hamilton retires or moves on. Charles Leclerc also has an exit clause in his deal.
It’s been claimed that Piastri has ‘set his sights’ on Maranello for 2027. He’s apparently ‘dissatisfied’ with his role at McLaren.
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Should Oscar Piastri leave McLaren?
On Thursday, there were even suggestions that Piastri is ‘flirting’ with Ferrari, which hints that initial, exploratory contact has been made. F1-Insider posit a potential explanation for the gossip.
It may be that he’s simply intending to ‘put pressure’ on McLaren amid a ‘fiercely contested championship battle’. It will only become clear ‘in the coming months’ if he’s seriously planning a ‘transfer’ to Ferrari.
Is Oscar Piastri now showing the guile of an F1 champion?
In terms of car performance, Piastri has little incentive to leave McLaren. Mercedes are believed to have the best engine for 2026, and they will continue to supply the Woking outfit until at least the end of 2030.
McLaren are as good now as they have been at any point in the 21st century. The tandem of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella is one that almost every team would relish.
Piastri knows this could be his only shot at the title because the future is so unpredictable in F1, but equally, McLaren may be the safest bet on the grid.
If these transfer rumours are pure gamesmanship, then it could be a smart, if underhand, move. The McLaren pit wall may be more inclined to protect Piastri if there’s a perceived risk of alienating him.
But equally, they want to keep Norris happy too. The reality is that McLaren face a mightily difficult, era-defining balancing act in the next couple of months.