McLaren Target Shock F1 Star to Replace Oscar Piastri Amid Exit Rumours

McLaren are reportedly interested in a huge Formula 1 star amid rumours linking Oscar Piastri with an exit.

Piastri, 24, was involved in an intense title battle with Lando Norris and Max Verstappen over the course of the 2025 F1 campaign.

The Australian had a healthy lead at the top of the standings heading into the summer break, but endured a drastic dip in form during the second half of the season.

As a result, Piastri ended up finishing in third place, with McLaren teammate Norris winning his maiden world championship.

Over the last few months, McLaren have often been accused of favouring Norris ahead of Piastri, something the team has denied throughout.

Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it was claimed that paddock rumours have linked Piastri with a move away from McLaren.

According to F1 journalists Rebecca Clancy and Ben Hunt, Piastri's team might have been reaching out to Red Bull about a potential transfer.

Oscar Piastri (L) at the FIA Awards. Image: Getty

As per F1 Oversteer, Clancy said on the Inside the Piranha Club podcast: "What about this relationship between the drivers, because there were a lot of rumours about Piastri. We know that both McLaren drivers are signed on multi-year contracts; they never tell us exactly how long.

"Piastri’s contract is thought to the end of 2028; however, there were a lot of rumours in the paddock over the weekend that Piastri was looking to join Red Bull from 2027."

Now, according to Nextgen-Auto, Piastri is ‘secretly frustrated’ and McLaren are believed to be 'reviewing their options in case the Australian attempts to break out of his contract early at the end of 2026'.

It has been claimed that McLaren are 'particularly interested' in signing Ferrari star Charles Leclerc, who endured a tough season of his own.

However, McLaren could face competition from Aston Martin for the Monegasque's signature, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both out of contract at the end of next year.

It has been reported that Leclerc has an exit clause in his Ferrari deal that allows him to leave the Scuderia, should he wish to do so.