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Ralf Schumacher has noticed a significant change in Oscar Piastri amid all the drama surrounding him at McLaren.
The Aussie fought for the 2025 championship and had been leading the way for 15 race weekends. However, controversy surrounding team orders left him finishing third behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
Schumacher thinks Piastri ‘lost faith’ in McLaren after he was told to give up position to Norris at Monza. Tense radio exchanges and friction behind the scenes followed, leading to rumours that he could look to leave the team.
If you were Zak Brown, would you sign Max Verstappen or keep Oscar Piastri?
Ralf Schumacher puts Oscar Piastri in the ‘Carlos Sainz category’ when discussing Max Verstappen Red Bull replacements
Reports have suggested that Piastri is considering terminating his McLaren contract amid rumours that Verstappen is talking with the Woking outfit. Zak Brown has denied these reports, while Piastri insists that he is happy with the team.
But Piastri has been linked with Red Bull and is being tipped as a strong target if the Dutchman does decide to cut ties and move to McLaren. He is among multiple drivers being monitored for the seat, but Schumacher does not see him as a top target.
Carlos Sainz has also been linked with Red Bull, but the former F1 driver would not consider him or Piastri for the seat. Instead, Schumacher would sign Oliver Bearman for Red Bull and take him away from Ferrari.
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Speaking via Sky Germany’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast, he notes a change in Piastri at McLaren following the controversy in 2025.
He said: “I think Oscar Piastri is more in the ‘Carlos Sainz’ category for me now. It was like that, where you say, ‘Blimey, that lad’s incredibly cool’ – he took a bit of time to get going, but then he really did steal the show from Norris a bit, but that’s changed things a bit.
“He’s changed. I think he suffered a bit from all the discord within the team last year. I don’t think it exactly helped – this, well, this issue of him not believing he had the same equipment and so on.
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“There were rumours, after all. That’s what it did to him, and I think you can tell he’s not entirely happy at the moment. I can tell that from the way he is.
“He certainly has the potential to win, but today I think I’d be more inclined to go for Bearman, because Piastri’s been around for a while now and is, let’s say, at Norris’s level.
“Which isn’t bad; he is, after all, a world champion, but yes, I think I’d be more inclined to take a bit of a risk and go for Bearman.”
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