Fresh questions have been raised about Oscar Piastri’s future at McLaren, and there are suggestions four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen could also looking for a way out of Red Bull. Both drivers have begun the new season in disappointing style, with the controversial engine changes wreaking havoc on the F1 field, and Mercedes and Ferrari emerging as the teams to beat.
The opening two Grands Prix for Piastri have been disastrous after back-to-back DNFs. The Aussie crashed out during the formation lap at his home GP in Melbourne, before electrical problems for the McLaren cars ended any hopes for Piastri and reigning world champion Lando Norris in China.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen have both been linked with switches next year after disappointing starts to the F1 season. Pic: Getty
McLaren CEO Zak Brown insists a win for the team is just around the corner but their hopes of defending last year’s constructors’ championship appear slim. Team principal team principal Andrea Stella also confirmed this week that Piastri and Norris would have to wait until May to get the first upgrades to the McLaren cars at the Miami GP.
Amid the drama are suggestions Piastri could benefit from a change of teams next year. Former F1 star David Coulthard – who was a former teammate of Piastri’s manager Mark Webber – poured fuel on the fire after discussing the issues at McLaren.
Former F1 driver David Coulthard has fuelled the Oscar Piastri exit rumours after discusses the issues with the McLaren cars this year. Pic: Getty
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“The cars are clearly unreliable. They’re pointing the finger at their engine supplier, which is Mercedes-Benz,” Coulthard said on the ‘Up To Speed’ podcast. “There’ll be a lot of questions there now.
“You wonder not only about the short-term future, but taking a longer-term view of where their opportunities lie – race drivers are like light bulbs. They get screwed in, they shine bright and they get taken out. In the same way that a team can do that to a driver, a driver can do it to a team.”
Supercars legend Mark Skaife said on MotorRacing 360: “I think for Oscar, David Coulthard’s very close to Mark Webber. So to me, there’s a little bit of intel in the back of that with David Coulthard saying, ‘hey, I reckon there might be a little path out of this place’. Because at the moment, you know you’re number two to Lando at that joint. That’s the issue.”
Could Max Verstappen be eyeing a switch to Mercedes?
Rumours are also swirling that Verstappen could be plotting a way out of Red Bull, following a retirement in China and a sixth-placed finish in Australia. The four-time champion has been strongly linked with a switch to Mercedes, who are reportedly weighing up the purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Alpine.
“I’m wondering whether Toto (Wolff, Mercedes team principal) thinks he needs two Formula 1 teams because that’ll give him four seats,” F1 journalist Tom Clarkson told Kayo Sports. “If Max comes to the works, can you put George (Russell) in an Alpine? He’s got two really good drivers. Kimi Antonelli is a star of the future. George is a star of now. Neither deserves to lose their seat. There’s only one driver in Formula 1 who could oust them and that is Max.”
Fernando Alonso absent after the birth of his first child
Meantime, Aston Martin have confirmed that two-time world champion Fernando Alonso will be absent from the media day ahead of this weekend’s Japanese GP. The team announced he would miss Thursday’s press activities for “personal family reasons” and it’s since emerged that Alonso’s partner has given birth to the couple’s first child.
Aston Martin say Alonso will be back in time for Friday’s second practice session at Suzuka, with reserve driver Jak Crawford deputising in the opening session. Alonso and Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll have both failed to finish a race this year as the team struggles to find answers to the vibration issues from the car’s Honda power unit.
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso and his partner Melissa Jimenez are reportedly celebrating the birth of their first child together. Pic: Getty
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with agencies