Oscar Piastri faces worst-case scenario in the F1 driver market amid McLaren’s poor start to 2026

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Oscar Piastri entered 2026 with questions surrounding his future at McLaren, and the team’s poor start to the season may not be helping to convince the Australian to stay.

Just one year ago, Piastri put pen to paper on a new contract for McLaren, which locked him in through at least the 2028 F1 season. The 24-year-old committed his future to them before emerging as a title contender, but tension was then thought to have built behind the scenes.

Reports emerged toward the end of 2025 that suggested that Piastri had grown frustrated at McLaren because of how they dealt with his title fight with teammate Lando Norris last year. It has even been suggested that Piastri intends to decide his future at McLaren this summer.

The Melbourne native is believed to see the summer break as the ideal chance to reflect on how well McLaren have adapted to the 2026 F1 regulations. But he may already be worried as McLaren’s 2026 F1 car lacks downforce, which is causing their drivers constant problems.

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Oscar Piastri had set his sights on Ferrari and Red Bull for 2027, but neither may now make sense

Piastri is also the only driver in the field still yet to complete a single lap during a Grand Prix after the first two rounds. Heads dropped all around Albert Park after Piastri crashed before the Australian GP, and neither he nor Norris started in China due to separate engine issues.

READ MORE: The best moments of Oscar Piastri’s career in Formula 1

McLaren’s MCL40 has only been the third-best car in race conditions so far this season, as well, as Mercedes and Ferrari have started out much stronger. Yet Piastri faces a worst-case scenario as his best options in the driver market at the close of 2025 are fading fast in 2026.

Among the myriad of reports touting a potential move away from McLaren, it was said that Piastri has set his sights on joining Ferrari for 2027. But the Scuderia are not the only team on his radar, as rumours have also suggested that Piastri is looking to join Red Bull for 2027.

Yet while Piastri may admire Ferrari, the Scuderia may not need him as Lewis Hamilton has returned to form under the 2026 F1 regulations. Charles Leclerc has also seen Ferrari offer him the second-best car behind Mercedes’ W17. So, both Ferrari drivers may want to stay.

Red Bull’s underlying lack of downforce has seen them struggle, with the RB22 not even a front-running car in qualifying or the races run so far. But Piastri would surely think again about a move to Red Bull in 2027 if the RB22 is not even as strong as the McLaren MCL40.

It is also even more unlikely that Piastri would now consider a switch to Aston Martin, who have had the worst start of all in 2026. Ralf Schumacher could not rule out Aston Martin as an option for Piastri last October, but they need major work before they can score points.