‘Could go anywhere’: F1 world divided by Oscar Piastri defection plot

Oscar Piastri has been linked with another powerhouse F1 team with rumours swirling about the Aussie driver’s future.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images.

Oscar Piastri “could go anywhere” on the Formula One grid, including to Red Bull, as speculation mounts that he could leave McLaren as soon as the end of this season.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has poured fuel on the fire with a suggestion Piastri could move to Red Bull if Max Verstappen leaves the world champion team.

The Australia leads the F1 championship by 24 points from Lando Norris and Verstappen, but will need to hit back at his rivals in the final stages of the season if he is to become Australia’s first world champion in 45 years.

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Tensions at McLaren appear to be brewing after Norris bumped into Piastri to overtake him at the Singapore Grand Prix, leaving the Aussie fuming and arguing the move went against the team’s “papaya rules”.

Norris and McLaren said the incident was fair game, fuelling fan speculation the team is favouring Norris over Piastri as the gloves come off in the fight for the championship.

Adding to the tensions are explosive claims made by IndyCar champion Alex Palou in a court case and that McLaren CEO Zak Brown didn’t want to sign Piastri to the team in the first place.

It was not a good look for McLaren in Singapore when team members were seen celebrating winning the constructors title without Piastri.

There are growing calls for Piastri to leave McLaren and join another team, and F1 experts are divided on whether the 24-year-old should jump ship.

Piastri signed a “multi-year” contract extension with McLaren earlier this year, but the exact number of seasons remaining on his deal is unclear.

He has been linked with a move to Ferrari in 2027, or to Aston Martin or Mercedes, where George Russell is yet to be given a contract extension beyond this year despite having a career best season.

Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren and Oscar Piastri of Australia. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images.

Aston Martin veteran Fernando Alonso has also indicated 2026 may be his final season in F1.

Now former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has suggested Piastri could move to Red Bull if Verstappen leaves the world champions.

“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 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.”

But former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes there’s nowhere for Piastri to go, adding it would be foolish to leave McLaren, especially if he wins the world title.

Ralf Schumacher (left) with his brother Michael in 2001. Credit: Mark Thompson/ALLSPORT.

Oscar Piastri is doing his best to block out the noise. Photo by Pauline Ballet/Getty Images.

“First of all, he’s going to win the world championship this year, so that’s why he should stay there,” Steiner said of Piastri on the Red Flags podcast.

“Next year, wherever you go — first of all, there is no seats in the next year. And wherever you go, you wouldn’t know where you’re going, and I think McLaren at the moment is doing a pretty good job.

“Obviously he can beat Lando. If he can beat him this year, I think his hope should be to beat him in the future as well. Why should he leave?”

Steiner rubbished claims of favouritism towards Norris and said winning the world championship would only cement Piastri’s status as one off the leading drivers on the grid.

“I don’t think they put him (Piastri) at a disadvantage; they just don’t put him at an advantage, so he has to fight for everything,” Steiner said.

“But if he wins the world championship, I think he will for sure the world champion in the team and that is what counts.

“I don’t think he’s leaving. No. Shouldn’t be leaving. Should stay there.”

Schumacher also predicted Norris and Piastri will make contact and crash into each other before the season is over.

“I just hope it doesn’t come to a final collision,” Schumacher said.

“Somehow, I have a feeling that it will soon come to the point where the two don’t come out of the first corner together.

It comes as former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone labelled Piastri as the second best driver on the grid behind Max Verstappen and backed the Aussie to claim the world title.

“He gets the job done,” Ecclestone said of the Australian driver.

“When he makes mistakes, he knows he’s made them and doesn’t blame others or come up with excuses. He makes sure he doesn’t repeat them. He doesn’t make them twice.

“He’s the best driver after Max Verstappen.”

After McLaren clinched the lucrative constructors championship for the second year in a row, all eyes are now on the battle for the drivers championship and whether Piastri can hold onto his 24-point lead with six races remaining.

The F1 season resumes this weekend at the United States Grand Prix.

Originally published as ‘Could go anywhere’: F1 world divided by Oscar Piastri defection plot