Oscar Piastri’s future at McLaren has become a subject of speculation, with Formula 1 insiders suggesting the Australian could be tempted by an offer from Red Bull that his current team cannot match.
Piastri joined McLaren in 2023 after a dramatic split from Alpine’s junior programme, announced via a social media post that contradicted Alpine’s claim he would race for them. The 25-year-old has since established himself as one of the grid’s most promising talents, finishing third in the 2025 drivers’ championship behind teammate Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
While Piastri remains under contract with McLaren through the end of 2028, the same timeframe as Verstappen’s deal with Red Bull, recent developments have fuelled rumours of a potential swap between the two drivers.
The Factory Team Advantage
Speaking on the Up to Speed podcast, F1 journalist Will Buxton outlined why Red Bull might hold a unique attraction for Piastri beyond salary or status considerations. The critical factor, according to Buxton, is Red Bull’s works team status with Ford.
“They’ve admitted from the start of this year, it’s got better admittedly since the start of the season, but McLaren is not a factory team. They’re a customer and Red Bull have the factory relationship with Ford and that is a very, very powerful pull for a driver to be at a factory team,” Buxton said. “I think that could be shiny shiny for Oscar as well.”
McLaren currently uses Mercedes power units following their reunion in 2021, meaning Piastri has never driven for a works operation. Red Bull Powertrains, developed in partnership with Ford since 2026, offers the chance to shape a manufacturer programme from its formative stages.
Historical Parallels and Future Questions
Buxton drew parallels to two of the sport’s greatest drivers who made career-defining moves to works teams. Michael Schumacher left Benetton after back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995 to join Ferrari, who had not won a drivers’ title since 1979. Alongside Jean Todt and Ross Brawn, Schumacher transformed Ferrari into the dominant force of the early 2000s.
Similarly, Lewis Hamilton departed McLaren in 2013 for Mercedes, then a team yet to establish consistent championship form. Hamilton’s move preceded the most successful period in F1 history for the Silver Arrows.
“It sounds kind of mad but I mentioned Lewis [Hamilton] and I mentioned Michael [Schumacher] because they both went to teams that were not performing and they left great teams, world championship teams to go somewhere else and ultimately try to rebuild,” Buxton explained. “Those two drivers took a risk, left the most successful team at the time, went somewhere, built a culture, built a championship-winning team and changed the needle.”
The question remains whether Piastri possesses the qualities to replicate such transformative impact. “Does Oscar have that Schumacher, Hamilton-esque quality to be able to go and do that? And I find that a fascinating question,” Buxton concluded.
The Number One Driver Question
Another consideration is McLaren’s driver hierarchy. Piastri and Norris operated under McLaren’s ‘papaya rules’ throughout 2025, a policy that prevented either driver from being designated as the team’s clear number one. For a driver of Piastri’s calibre, the opportunity to lead Red Bull’s project could prove compelling.
Red Bull are understood to be preparing contingency plans should Verstappen depart, with Piastri likely featuring prominently on any shortlist of potential replacements. Whether the combination of works team status, number one status, and the challenge of rebuilding Red Bull proves irresistible remains to be seen as the 2026 season unfolds.