Oscar Piastri remains contractually tied to McLaren until the end of the 2028 Formula 1 season and even mounted a strong title challenge in 2025. Nevertheless, the Australian driver is increasingly being linked to a potential move to Ferrari for the 2027 campaign. The driver market is expected to undergo a major shake-up next year, with several top names either out of contract or able to activate exit clauses that would allow them to switch teams freely ahead of 2027. Piastri belongs to the group of drivers with the option to leave early, despite McLaren securing his signature on a new long-term deal in March.
McLaren handed Piastri a lucrative £28 million-per-year contract to secure the 24-year-old’s services ahead of the 2025 season. The decision proved highly successful for the Woking team, as Piastri delivered seven Grand Prix victories, six pole positions and 16 podium finishes across 24 rounds. He also spent 189 days at the top of the Formula 1 drivers’ standings—longer than any of his rivals—yet ultimately slipped to third in the championship. He ended the year 13 points behind teammate Lando Norris and 11 behind Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, after losing momentum in the second half of the season.
Ferrari’s long-standing issues raise doubts for Piastri as he evaluates a future beyond McLaren
Many of the difficulties Piastri experienced in the second part of the 2025 season stemmed from the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, held in round 16. During that race, McLaren instructed him to hand back second place to Norris after an undercut strategy allowed Piastri to move ahead, despite the team indicating that the driver who pitted second would retain track position.
His troubles escalated from there. Piastri crashed during qualifying in Baku, then jumped the start and later retired from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after another incident. Tensions increased again in Singapore, where he struggled to move past frustration over Norris making contact with him, and the situation worsened in the United States when he triggered the collision that eliminated both McLaren cars from the Sprint.
According to reporting from FunoAnalisiTecnica, Piastri has also felt that Norris enjoyed stronger backing within the McLaren garage. As a result, the 24-year-old is now seriously evaluating his long-term prospects at Woking. Ferrari has emerged as the most frequently mentioned destination should he decide to activate his release clause and pursue a move in 2027.
However, Piastri is reportedly weighing two major concerns regarding Ferrari as he assesses whether to honour his contract with McLaren. The first involves what he perceives as Ferrari’s recurring structural and operational issues, which he fears could hinder consistent competitiveness. The second relates to the uncertainties surrounding the Scuderia’s design direction for the all-new technical regulations that Formula 1 will adopt in 2026.
The 2026 Formula 1 rule overhaul could redefine the entire driver market
Next season will bring the most significant regulatory transformation in modern Formula 1, with a new generation of power units, revised chassis dimensions, radical aerodynamic changes and updated tyre rules. Many in the paddock believe Mercedes will enter 2026 with the strongest engine package, placing pressure on McLaren to deliver a competitive car despite relying on customer engines.
McLaren will continue sourcing Mercedes power units until 2030, but Piastri could still consider a departure if he feels undervalued during the crucial 2026 campaign. Yet moving to Ferrari carries its own risks. There are widespread doubts about the performance potential of Ferrari’s 2026 engine project, a concern that could prove significant given the anticipated influence of power units under the new regulations.
Ferrari halted development of their 2025 car as early as April to allocate their wind-tunnel resources toward the 2026 project. McLaren also shifted its focus to next season, making a similar decision in July. Meanwhile, Red Bull and Audi are preparing entirely new power units for 2026, adding further complexity to the competitive picture.
Charles Leclerc has already suggested that a single team could dominate Formula 1 for up to four consecutive years if it perfects the new regulations from the outset. With the opening races of 2026 expected to expose the true competitive order, Piastri will likely monitor Ferrari’s progress with extreme attention as he decides whether to remain loyal to McLaren or pursue a new chapter with the Scuderia.
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