Oscar Piastri to Red Bull? Separating fact from fiction
Despite rumors linking Oscar Piastri to Red Bull or Ferrari for 2027, the Australian driver's best move is to stay with McLaren. The team offers crucial stability and proven competitiveness heading into the uncertain 2026 regulation changes, whereas a switch now would be a high-risk gamble for the rising title contender.
Oscar Piastri must remain committed to McLaren despite the disappointment of missing out on the 2025 Formula 1 world championship by just 11 points. While rumors link the Australian with moves to Ferrari or Red Bull for 2027, a switch amidst the looming 2026 regulation changes would be a significant and potentially career-limiting gamble. McLaren offers the stability, competitive machinery, and clear title-contending potential that makes it his best option for the foreseeable future.
Why it matters:
Piastri is at a critical career juncture. After proving himself a genuine title contender in only his third F1 season, his next move must balance short-term competitiveness with long-term security. The sweeping 2026 regulations create unprecedented uncertainty, making team stability a priceless asset. A misstep now could derail the career of one of the grid's most promising talents.
The details:
The speculation stems from a challenging second half of the 2025 season for Piastri, where team decisions created a narrative of favoritism towards teammate Lando Norris.
- After leading the championship by 34 points following the Dutch GP, Piastri's campaign was undone by a troubled run through the Americas.
- Key moments fueled the controversy: a strategic advantage for Norris in Imola, different strategies in Hungary that resulted in a Norris win, and a team order at Monza asking Piastri to cede second place to his teammate.
- Piastri himself linked the Monza radio call to a subsequent "perfect storm" of errors, including a crash-filled weekend in Baku and on-track clashes with Norris in Singapore and Austin.
- This perceived inequity, whether real or not, began speculation that Piastri was seeking an exit, with Ferrari and Red Bull named as potential destinations.
The big picture:
Entering the 2026 regulatory whirlwind, continuity is king. McLaren is one of the few teams offering it.
- McLaren's Stability: The team retains its Mercedes power unit partnership, has both drivers under contract, and has experienced no senior management turmoil. This contrasts sharply with the upheaval at Audi, Aston Martin, Alpine, and the internal challenges rumored at Ferrari.
- The Red Bull Question: A move to Red Bull presents logical hurdles. The team has historically shown little appetite for a driver capable of challenging Max Verstappen. Furthermore, Red Bull faces its own unknowns with an all-new in-house power unit developed with Ford and an unproven post-Horner management structure.
- Piastri's Trajectory: At just three seasons into his F1 career, Piastri is still improving. He pushed Norris and Verstappen to the final race in 2025 and has not yet reached his performance ceiling. The lessons from this year's near-miss will only make him stronger.
What's next:
The safer and smarter path for Piastri is clear: see out his contract at McLaren and assess the 2026 landscape from a position of strength. He remains part of a benchmark team that redirected development early to the new regulations. If he chooses to leave later, he will do so as a proven championship contender in a much clearer driver market. For now, the grass is not necessarily greener elsewhere; McLaren provides the best platform for him to convert his undeniable potential into a world championship.