Montoya Claims Piastri and Webber Are 'Already Talking' to Rival F1 Team

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya claims he can "guarantee" that Oscar Piastri and his manager, Mark Webber, are already in discussions with another Formula 1 team. This speculation follows a narrative of perceived favoritism towards Piastri's teammate, Lando Norris, at McLaren during the latter part of the season, which saw the Australian's championship lead evaporate.

Why it matters:

If true, these talks signal significant internal tension at McLaren, a team that just won the constructors' championship. Piastri is considered one of the grid's top young talents, and losing him would be a major blow to the team's long-term prospects. It also highlights the delicate politics of managing two elite drivers in a title fight.

The details:

Montoya's comments point to growing dissatisfaction, potentially stemming from several key moments in the 2025 season:

• Team Orders in Italy: McLaren asked Piastri to move aside for Norris at Monza, a decision the Australian was reportedly unhappy with and which he admitted affected him at the next race in Baku.
• Performance Dip: Following that event, Piastri's form declined, with difficult weekends in Baku, Austin, and Mexico City where he struggled for pace.
• Singapore Incident: The team did not intervene when Norris made a forceful pass on Piastri in Singapore, further fueling the narrative of preferential treatment.
• Championship Swing: Piastri failed to win in the final nine rounds, transforming a 34-point lead into a 13-point deficit to Norris by season's end, finishing behind Max Verstappen in the standings.

Between the lines:

Montoya adds a crucial layer of context by pointing to Mark Webber's own F1 history. He suggests Webber's dissatisfaction may be influenced by his past experiences, notably his time as Sebastian Vettel's teammate at Red Bull where he was relegated to a clear number-two role. Montoya warns, "they need to be careful and make sure that Webber’s scars from his time as a race car driver have nothing to do with Oscar’s career." The implication is that Webber's management might be proactively seeking to avoid a similar situation for his protégé.

What's next:

The core question, as Montoya notes, is whether Piastri himself is "very unhappy" at McLaren. His contract situation is not publicly detailed, but these rumors will put immense pressure on McLaren's management to clarify their driver policy and reassure both Piastri and the market of their commitment to equal treatment. The off-season will be critical in determining if this is merely paddock speculation or the prelude to a major driver market shake-up.