Ralf Schumacher thinks ‘exciting’ F1 team could be an option for Oscar Piastri if he leaves McLaren

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McLaren driver Oscar Piastri will be firmly concentrating on the upcoming four races in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

If Oscar Piastri can beat Lando Norris over the final four race weekends, it would take a miracle for Max Verstappen to deny him winning the drivers’ championship.

However, the past few months have seen McLaren’s internal decision-making, typically known as papaya rules, seemingly work against the Australian.

Piastri brushed off Norris beating him in Hungary despite being put on an alternate strategy that he wasn’t offered, losing the race even though he had track position.

Norris was booed in Mexico, with fans upset over McLaren’s decision to swap the two drivers after a botched pit stop at Monza.

This has led to speculation that Piastri could be looking at joining another team on the grid in the future.

Piastri has been linked with Ferrari as a potential replacement for Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton.

However, Ralf Schumacher has suggested that he could see Piastri ending up at Aston Martin one day.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Ralf Schumacher says Aston Martin could be an option for Oscar Piastri if he leaves McLaren

Schumacher was speaking about Piastri on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast and said: “I’m just wondering where? Well, actually, I can’t imagine [Piastri leaving now], because it was only at the beginning of the year, he extended his contract.

“And that’s certainly for two years plus options.

“So now you can say, OK, he’ll still be driving next year. That means he’s looking for a seat for him the year after next.

“And I can imagine that anything green is interesting, even for Leclerc, who is already hinting that if Ferrari doesn’t improve, he wants to leave.

“So, Aston Martin must be looking for two drivers. One reason is that Alonso is leaving. Yes, and I don’t even want to talk about Stroll anymore.

“I think the results speak for themselves. So that means there’s potential and space. And that’s also an exciting topic with Adrian Newey.”

Schumacher went on to say that he can imagine Max Verstappen being an option for Aston Martin, and wouldn’t be surprised if Mark Webber, Piastri’s manager, has already been on the phone to the team.

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Would Oscar Piastri be a good fit for Aston Martin if he left McLaren?

Piastri hasn’t crossed paths with any of the big hitters at Aston Martin, such as team principal Andy Cowell or chief designer Adrian Newey.

However, the Australian does share a connection with Fernando Alonso.

Piastri was supposed to replace Alonso at Alpine at the end of the 2022 season before he was poached by McLaren.

Speaking about the Formula 2 champion at the time after deciding to leave Alpine for Aston Martin when Sebastian Vettel retired, Alonso said, via RACER: “Oscar is an incredible talent for any team and for Alpine, and I have been working for him for two years, and I wish him the best and also the best for Alpine.”

That scenario never transpired, but if Alonso decides to retire at the end of next season, then Piastri would be a superb replacement as a team leader.

Aston Martin are having a difficult season, but the combination of Newey, Honda power units and a new ruleset could make them a force to be reckoned with in 2026 and beyond.

If that proves to be the case, then Piastri could be the driver to deliver their first championship if his relationship with McLaren ultimately sours.