Oscar Piastri sets timeline for McLaren decision as Ferrari and Red Bull interest grows

Oscar Piastri committed his future to McLaren with a long-term deal before emerging as a title contender in the 2025 F1 season, but his stay might not last the length of his contract.

The 24-year-old put pen to paper on a new deal that keeps him at McLaren until 2028, just days before the start of the 2025 campaign. It was a shrewd move for the team, as Piastri went on to lead the drivers’ championship longer than anyone else that season.

Piastri became the first Australian to top the standings since his manager Mark Webber back in 2010 after sealing victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He ended up leading for 189 of a possible 266 days, before teammate Lando Norris overtook him in October.

Norris held on to win his first F1 title by just two points over Max Verstappen and Red Bull, while Piastri finished third, another eleven points behind. Oscar had led Norris by thirty-four points and Verstappen by one hundred and four after fifteen races, but fell away late in the year.

Piastri to Decide McLaren Future Midway Through 2026 F1 Season

Things started to unravel for Piastri at Monza after McLaren told him to give back second place in the Italian Grand Prix to Norris. He found it hard to move past that call, and it didn’t help when the team put the blame on him for his Sprint crash with Norris at COTA.

Questions about Piastri’s future at McLaren also began to surface after the team refused to intervene when Norris banged wheels with his overtake for P3 at the start of the Singapore Grand Prix. Now, Automoto.it reports that Piastri intends to consider his options for 2027.

It has since been reported by Automoto.it that Piastri plans to weigh up his options before committing beyond 2028. The report added that a decision will be made alongside Webber halfway through next season.

Piastri will wait until midway through the 2026 season before meeting with Mark Webber, his manager, who wants time first take some time evaluating how McLaren and their rivals are adapting under F1’s new technical regulations before making any decisions.

Red Bull and Ferrari keeping a close eye on Oscar Piastri’s position at McLaren

McLaren are fully aware that Piastri has the option to use a release clause in his contract to leave at the end of 2026. In response, reports suggest McLaren have started to show interest in Charles Leclerc, should Piastri decide not to continue with them.

There’s even talk of a potential seat swap or partnership between Leclerc and Piastri in 2027. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is reportedly considering Piastri as an option to replace Lewis Hamilton, whose future with the team also remains uncertain.

If he does choose to leave Woking, Ferrari currently looks like the most likely destination. However, Piastri still has concerns about some of the issues that have plagued Maranello in recent years and wants to see how they handle the new F1 regulations before making any decisions.

There are also rumours linking Piastri with a move to Red Bull for 2027. That talk could gain momentum if Verstappen decides to leave early, as he has a release clause that allows him to exit his contract if he isn’t ranked in the top two of the drivers’ standings this summer.