Last Updated on March 1 2026, 10:02 pm
From McLaren to Ferrari or Red Bull? Speculation is growing over Oscar Piastri’s Formula 1 future – Fresh speculation is swirling around Piastri’s future after former Formula 1 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya suggested the Australian could consider switching away from McLaren if he feels he is not treated as an equal within the team.
Speaking to Vision4Sport, Montoya outlined a scenario in which Piastri’s long-term future may depend on his position alongside reigning world champion Lando Norris. If the 24-year-old senses that Norris is firmly established as McLaren’s undisputed number one, Montoya believes Piastri would not hesitate to look elsewhere.
“If Oscar feels he is not treated equally and he has the chance to lead another team, then he will leave,” said Montoya. It is a bold claim, but one that reflects the high-stakes environment currently shaping the Formula 1 driver market.
Ferrari linked if Hamilton situation shifts
One of the most eye-catching possibilities raised by Montoya involves a move to Ferrari. The Italian giant endured a disastrous 2025 campaign, falling well short of expectations and struggling to mount a consistent title challenge.
Montoya suggested that, should Lewis Hamilton become disillusioned in Maranello, Ferrari could consider Piastri as part of a reset.
“If Lewis is unhappy and Oscar is unhappy at McLaren, he could move to Ferrari,” Montoya argued.
Ferrari has never been shy about making decisive driver changes when results fail to match ambition. A young, proven race winner like Piastri would represent both a long-term investment and a statement of intent. For Piastri, the allure of leading the most historic team in Formula 1 would be hard to resist.
However, much would depend on internal dynamics at Ferrari and whether Hamilton’s position remains secure. Any serious approach would likely require a complex chain reaction across the grid.
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Aston Martin and Red Bull are also in the frame
Ferrari is not the only team that Montoya sees as a potential destination. He also suggested the possibility of Piastri joining Aston Martin, particularly if there is growing uncertainty around the future of Fernando Alonso.
“If things don’t go well at Aston Martin, will Fernando stay? That would be another good option for Oscar,” Montoya noted.
With Alonso approaching the twilight of his career, Aston Martin may soon have to make a pivotal succession decision. A driver of Piastri’s calibre could provide continuity and long-term leadership.
Then there is Red Bull Racing. Montoya pointed to potential instability within the Milton Keynes outfit, particularly following internal structural changes and the departure of influential figures such as Helmut Marko.
“If Mercedes is strong and Max Verstappen moves to Mercedes, that would be another option,” Montoya suggested. The reference to Max Verstappen highlights how interconnected the driver market could become. A single high-profile move could trigger a cascade of changes, opening doors that currently appear closed.
Can Piastri become McLaren’s number one?
Despite outlining multiple exit strategies, Montoya believes that Piastri must first establish himself at McLaren. After finishing third in the 2025 World Championship, behind Norris and Verstappen, the Australian faces what Montoya describes as a defining season.
“If Lando isn’t careful, Oscar will overtake him,” said Montoya. “Lando really needs to improve if he wants to beat Oscar.”
The Colombian believes that Piastri’s response in 2026 will be critical, not just for one season, but for the whole trajectory of his career.
“His reaction this year will be very important, not only for this year, but for his entire career. He will set a precedent for how good he can be.”
Norris braces himself for an intra-team battle: “He’ll make my life hell.”
Certainly, reigning world champion Lando Norris has made it clear that he does not expect any let-up from his teammate Oscar Piastri in 2026, predicting that they will continue to push each other to the limit as they did in 2025.
The pair pushed each other throughout the 2025 campaign, taking their title fight all the way to the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Ultimately, Norris secured the crown, but only after fending off relentless pressure from Piastri, who fell short by a narrow margin. As he prepares for his first season as defending champion, Norris acknowledges that the challenge from within his own team may once again be his toughest.
“I expect him to make my life hell,” Norris admitted, acknowledging that Piastri’s quiet demeanour masks serious competitive intent.
“Oscar will continue to respond as he always does: by not talking too much and just getting on with it. Everyone knows what he can do.”
Piastri, as always, remains bullish, saying: “I’m not in Formula 1 just to be known as a nice person,”
“I’m here to try to become world champion.”
Piastri at a crossroads
Last season, Piastri briefly appeared to be a genuine title favourite before losing momentum during the second half of the year. Montoya described this period as a “major setback”, suggesting that the ability to recover mentally from such disappointment is what often separates champions from contenders.
With McLaren among the front-runners and Norris holding the championship crown, Piastri is at a crossroads. He must decide whether to cement his status within the team and challenge for supremacy internally, or allow speculation about his future to grow louder.
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A Radical Reset After March
According to Honda F1 project leader Satoshi Tsunoda, almost everything changed once Newey joined the Silverstone-based team in March 2025.
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“But everything else, including the peripherals and how they are attached to the car body, changed.”
In modern Formula 1, the integration between the chassis and the power unit is extremely sensitive. Cooling layouts, energy recovery systems and packaging constraints are all optimised around initial design assumptions. When these assumptions change late in the process, the consequences can be significant.
Newey’s arrival effectively meant a philosophical reset. For a team already deep into development, that reset came with risks…CONTINUE READING THIS STORY
A senior writer at TJ13, C.J. Alderson serves as Senior Editor and newsroom coordinator, with a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing. Alderson’s professional training in media studies and experience managing content teams ensures TJ13 maintains consistency of voice and credibility. During race weekends, Alderson acts as desk lead, directing contributors and smoothing breaking stories for publication.
