Oscar Piastri Tipped to Snub Ferrari for F1 Rival as McLaren Exit Route Emerges
The Australian driver is reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with McLaren.
Former Formula 1 race winner Ralf Schumacher has suggested that Oscar Piastri could make a shock move to join one of McLaren's biggest rivals.
With just six race weekends left in the 2025 Formula One season, the tensions at the top of the Drivers' Championship table are higher than ever.
Despite the fact that they have been relatively friendly all season, McLaren teammates Piastri and Lando Norris controversially clashed during the Singapore Grand Prix as the pair both chase the title.
Following the incident, in which Norris made an aggressive attack from fifth place that saw him briefly hit his teammate, some rumours have suggested that Piastri could be considering leaving McLaren in the near future.
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And if that were to be the case, then former race winner Ralf Schumacher, brother of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, has suggested where he could go next.
Ahead of his current title-leading campaign, Piastri penned a new deal with McLaren which is not set to expire until the end of 2028.
The Australian had ignored advances from Red Bull in the build-up to his extension being signed with former team principal and CEO Christian Horner publicly trying to convince him to join.
But Schumacher has suggested that the door for Piastri to join Red Bull may not be closed, as he believes the Australian could see them as his best option should he decide to leave early amid the rising tensions at McLaren.
“I believe Piastri could go anywhere,” Schumacher claimed on Sky Germany’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
“Now, if Max Verstappen leaves, he could be driving a Red Bull. Well, now Horner is gone, because that is a very good friendship.
“There were apparently already discussions between [Piastri’s manager] Mark Webber [and Red Bull]. But I believe such a driver can find a place anywhere. We must not forget Aston Martin, who are probably also looking for drivers beyond 2027.”
With it now unlikely that Piastri would leave McLaren ahead of next season, a move to Aston Martin in 2027 could make sense for Piastri after Fernando Alonso appeared to suggest that 2026 could be his last season in F1.
However, it's likely that the Australian's options would be almost limitless should he decided to leave McLaren, with a seat at Ferrari also believed to be potentially available should Lewis Hamilton decide to leave.
Topics: Formula 1, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lando Norris, Red Bull Racing
Ben McCrum