Oscar Piastri Linked With Potential F1 Exit as McLaren Dynamics Questioned
Oscar Piastri’s future at McLaren has come under increasing scrutiny after former Formula 1 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya claimed the Australian and his manager, Mark Webber, are already holding discussions with rival teams.
Montoya, who competed in Formula 1 between 2001 and 2006, suggested that dissatisfaction is growing within Piastri’s camp following how McLaren managed its drivers during the latter stages of the recent championship battle. While McLaren ultimately secured both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, the manner in which team decisions unfolded has raised questions about internal priorities.
Piastri, 24, emerged as a genuine title contender midway through the season, building a commanding 34-point lead at one stage. However, his momentum stalled dramatically in the final third of the campaign, allowing team-mate Lando Norris to close the gap and eventually secure the championship.
A key turning point came at the Italian Grand Prix, where McLaren instructed Piastri to yield track position in order to assist Norris. The decision proved controversial, particularly as Norris was later disadvantaged by a slow pit stop, undermining McLaren’s stated policy of maintaining equal treatment between its drivers. Piastri was visibly unhappy with the call and later admitted that the incident continued to affect him in subsequent races.
That frustration appeared to carry into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Piastri endured one of his most difficult weekends of the season. He suffered two crashes and was penalised for a false start, a stark contrast to his earlier form. His struggles continued at the United States and Mexico City Grands Prix, where low-grip conditions exposed further weaknesses, limiting him to fifth-place finishes despite McLaren’s competitive MCL39.
Additional controversy followed in Singapore, when Norris aggressively passed Piastri on track without intervention from the team. The lack of response from McLaren reinforced perceptions that Norris was receiving preferential treatment as the championship battle intensified.
As the season drew to a close, Piastri’s title hopes faded. He failed to secure a race win across the final nine rounds, watching his once-comfortable advantage turn into a 13-point deficit by the time the chequered flag fell at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen also finished ahead of him in the final standings.
Montoya believes these developments have prompted Piastri and Webber to explore alternatives elsewhere in the paddock. Speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, the seven-time grand prix winner claimed discussions with other teams are already underway.
“I can guarantee Oscar Piastri and Mark Webber are talking to another team,” Montoya said. “I don’t think Mark is satisfied with how Oscar’s development has been handled at McLaren. Mark isn’t very happy with McLaren, but the bigger question is whether Oscar himself has reached that point.”
Webber’s involvement adds another layer of intrigue. The former Red Bull driver has first-hand experience of navigating life as a second driver within a title-winning team, having endured a strained relationship with Sebastian Vettel during their time together. Webber narrowly missed out on the 2010 world championship before being firmly relegated to a supporting role as Vettel went on to win four consecutive titles.
Montoya cautioned that Webber’s past experiences could influence his perspective and potentially complicate Piastri’s situation if not carefully managed.
“Mark has scars from his own career,” Montoya explained. “They need to be careful that those experiences don’t spill over into Oscar’s career. Oscar’s path needs to be his own.”
Despite the speculation, Piastri remains under contract with McLaren, and the team continues to publicly emphasise its commitment to both drivers. However, with Formula 1’s driver market becoming increasingly fluid ahead of future regulation changes, even subtle signs of unrest can quickly escalate into serious transfer discussions.
For now, the focus remains on whether McLaren can convincingly demonstrate that Piastri will receive equal opportunity moving forward—or whether one of the sport’s brightest young talents may soon be weighing up a bold move elsewhere.
