Ex-driver Christian Fittipaldi hints at possible Piastri move in 2025 – Could McLaren driver Oscar Piastri be on the verge of a surprise move in the world of Formula 1? Former F1 driver Christian Fittipaldi recently speculated that the talented youngster could be considering a change of team after the 2024 season. Fittipaldi, an experienced voice in the sport, shared his intriguing opinion in a recent episode of his popular podcast.
Fittipaldi, a name synonymous with racing pedigree, is the nephew of two-time Formula One World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi. During his own career, Christian Fittipaldi experienced the highs and lows of Formula One at first hand. His journey in the sport saw him race for Minardi in 1992 and 1993 before moving to Arrows in 1994.
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Although his F1 career spanned just 40 Grands Prix, he achieved some notable results, including a fourth-place finish in the 1993 South African Grand Prix and two more fourth-place finishes in the 1994 South Pacific Grand Prix and German Grand Prix.
Since retiring from racing, Fittipaldi has remained heavily involved in the motorsport community. He currently co-hosts the ‘Pelas Pistas Podcast’ with Nelsinho Piquet – another figure from a legendary racing family, as the son of three-time F1 world champion Nelson Piquet – and Thiago Alves.
]The trio discuss current events in Formula 1 and offer valuable insights, often drawing on their own experiences within the sport.
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Fittipaldi’s bold prediction
In the latest episode of his podcast, Fittipaldi turns his attention to McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, one of the sport’s rising stars. Currently driving for McLaren alongside Lando Norris, Piastri has impressed many with his performances this season.
However, Fittipaldi has speculated that Piastri may be considering a move away from the British team, where he is regarded as a “second driver” behind Norris.
Fittipaldi’s comments have certainly sparked interest. According to him, Piastri could even be considering a move to Red Bull, possibly to replace Sergio Pérez in 2025.
“At the end of the year, I don’t think it’s out of the question that Oscar Piastri will take (Sergio) Pérez’s place at Red Bull next year,” Fittipaldi said during his podcast, sparking a wave of speculation across the F1 world.
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Could Red Bull be Piastri’s next destination?
The idea of Oscar Piastri joining Red Bull Racing is an intriguing one, especially given Red Bull’s dominance in recent years. However, this potential move depends on a number of key factors, both within McLaren and Red Bull.
At McLaren, Piastri has shown glimpses of his immense talent, at times even outperforming Norris, the team’s long-time leader. However, the dynamics of the team place Piastri in a supporting role, with Norris taking precedence in the championship.
Currently, Norris is second in the drivers’ championship with 279 points, while Piastri is fourth with 244 points, eight points behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. With McLaren struggling to challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the team needs both drivers to work together, but Piastri may be growing frustrated with playing the role of Norris’ wingman.
Fittipaldi suggested that this dynamic could lead Piastri to consider a move elsewhere.
“Piastri might get a bit fed up with the situation at McLaren. Then he’ll say: ‘Thanks for the help, but I have to think about myself,'” he explained.
Red Bull, on the other hand, is an attractive prospect for any driver. Max Verstappen has been the dominant force in the sport and the team has consistently produced championship-winning cars. However, Sergio Pérez, who currently occupies the second seat at Red Bull, has come under increasing scrutiny for his performances.
Although Pérez’s contract runs until the end of 2025, speculation about his future has been rife. Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko has suggested that Pérez’s position is not guaranteed, and that he must continue to prove his worth to remain with the team.
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Piastri’s rise and possible departure
Oscar Piastri’s rise through the ranks of motorsport has been nothing short of remarkable. The Australian driver quickly made a name for himself by winning titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2 before making his Formula 1 debut with McLaren. His calm demeanour, technical skill and ability to adapt to the pressure of racing at the highest level have earned him widespread praise.
Throughout the 2024 season, Piastri has continued to develop and show his potential as a future star of the sport. His performances have placed him among the top drivers in the field, despite playing a secondary role to Norris at McLaren. But as Fittipaldi pointed out, Piastri may not be content to remain in Norris’s shadow for long.
If the opportunity to join Red Bull does present itself, it could be a turning point in Piastri’s career. Not only would he be joining a team with a proven track record of success, but he would also have the chance to compete on a more equal footing with Verstappen, one of the most dominant drivers in recent history.
The lure of such a move could be hard for Piastri to resist, especially if McLaren continue to prioritise Norris in their championship pursuit.
The future for Pérez
For Sergio Pérez, Fittipaldi’s comments highlight the pressure that continues to mount on his position at Red Bull. While Pérez has delivered strong performances at times, his inconsistency compared to Verstappen has raised questions about whether he is the right fit for the team in the long term.
Red Bull have traditionally favoured drivers who can push Verstappen while playing a supporting role in securing the team’s results. If Pérez fails to live up to those expectations, it could open the door for a driver like Piastri to step in and take his place.
While Fittipaldi’s comments are purely speculative at this stage, they do raise interesting possibilities for the 2025 F1 season. With several drivers potentially on the move and top teams evaluating their line-ups, the next few months could see significant changes to the grid.
Piastri’s decision – whether to stay with McLaren or seek a fresh start elsewhere – is likely to depend on how the rest of the 2024 season unfolds. If he continues to perform strongly and prove his worth, he will undoubtedly have options to explore. Whether Red Bull will be one of them remains to be seen, but Fittipaldi’s prediction has certainly added a new layer of intrigue to the F1 rumour mill.
Either way, Oscar Piastri’s future promises to be one of the most intriguing storylines to watch as F1 heads into the 2025 season.
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“Hi Zak, I am fed up of being number 2 driver to Lando, so I am off to Red Bull
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to be number 2 to Max”
What nonsense. There is absolutely no way that ANYONE would be given equal footing at Red Bull with Max. At least at McLaren he stands a chance, based on his own merit and performance, as we have seen this season up until only recently, to be given equal status with Lando