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The chaotic nature of the Formula 1 driver market could see Oscar Piastri leave McLaren for Red Bull in 2027. If he does, Zak Brown should already know his replacement.
The consensus in the F1 driver market for the 2027 season is that everyone is waiting for Max Verstappen to decide on his future. He has threatened to quit the sport numerous times over the new regulations and is free to leave Red Bull at the end of 2026.
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Verstappen’s links to Mercedes, while rumours of an offer being tabled this year are false, according to his father, are unlikely to go away. Should he leave Red Bull or retire, it will start a snowball effect of driver moves, with Piastri being eyed as a replacement.
It is possible that Piastri could leave McLaren in 2026 through a performance clause, which he can activate if he is not in the top five of the championship – he is currently sixth. Brown would then need a replacement, and the best option is clear – Fernando Alonso.
Fernando Alonso’s relationship with Zak Brown makes him the perfect driver to replace Oscar Piastri at McLaren
Piastri leaving McLaren is ‘not unrealistic’, with Red Bull identifying him as a top target to replace Verstappen in 2027 should he decide to walk. In this scenario, the Woking outfit would have multiple drivers to choose from, and Alonso could be a shock candidate.
Speaking via Cortito y al Pie, Spanish journalist Carlos Miguel discussed Alonso’s future in F1. The Spaniard is being linked with retirement in 2026, with the 45-year-old’s contract expiring at the end of the season.
Recently, Alonso has been linked with a return to Alpine. Aston Martin’s disastrous situation in 2026 may have frustrated the veteran, as he is determined to end his career on a high – McLaren may also offer that chance.
How will Fernando Alonso’s Formula 1 career be remembered?
Miguel pointed out that the Spaniard still maintains a great relationship with the team and CEO Brown: “In the case of Fernando Alonso, there is a team with which he maintains a good relationship: with McLaren and with its CEO, Zak Brown.
“Even so, in the case of McLaren, many circumstances would have to align for this to happen. But it is one of the possible scenarios if the silly season is triggered by Max’s move.”
Of course, as Miguel rightly notes, this is all hypothetical and almost entirely dependent on whether Verstappen leaves Red Bull. But should Piastri take his place, there is arguably no better driver available for McLaren in 2027 than Alonso.
If Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were in equal machinery for their entire F1 careers, who would have been better?
Even at 45 years old, he has proven time and time again that he is still capable of performing at a high level. Aston Martin have not given him competitive machinery since 2023 – his best season since 2013 – but he has still managed to outperform the car.
Even now in 2026, with the AMR26 being miles off the pace and desperately unreliable, Alonso managed to get it into the points in Monaco, albeit it was highly fortunate with numerous retirements and penalties. Nevertheless, the fire is still there.
In a top team, there is little doubt that Alonso will be competitive. Brown has consistently talked about wanting to reunite with the Spaniard for events such as the 24 hours of Le Mans – bringing him back to McLaren would not only be perfect for them, but also for Alonso in what would be his final spell in F1.
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