Oscar Piastri's manager 'already talking' to Red Bull and Aston Martin, speculates Montoya

Juan Pablo Montoya believed that Oscar Piastri’s management might already be exploring options outside McLaren following a demanding 2025 Formula 1 season. The former F1 driver suggested that recent tensions in the team and the way McLaren handled its title fight could be a factor, even if Piastri himself remains committed.

Piastri’s 2025 campaign ended in frustration. He led the standings for most of the year, with a 34-point advantage over Lando Norris and 104 points over Max Verstappen at summer break. However, a difficult stretch saw momentum swing sharply. The Australian finished the season with just two podiums in the final eight races.

Norris recovered to seal the title in Abu Dhabi, while Piastri slipped to third overall, finishing 11 points behind Verstappen. Sections of the fanbase accused McLaren of favoring Norris during key moments. That perception also fueled speculation about Piastri’s long-term future, and Montoya added further weight to the debate by pointing to his manager Mark Webber’s complicated end at Red Bull.

“I can guarantee that Mark Webber is already talking to other teams, I’d say Red Bull and Aston Martin, because he’s unhappy with how Piastri was treated,” Montoya told Grosvenor Casinos (via F1 Passion). “I’m not sure, but I think he’s already in talks.... I don’t know if Piastri is actually unhappy with McLaren. Mark Webber must be careful not to make Piastri pay for some of the wounds that are part of Webber’s racing career.”

Oscar Piastri is tied to McLaren through 2028, and Red Bull has already finalized its 2026 lineup, confirming Isack Hadjar alongside Max Verstappen. The second Red Bull seat has proven unforgiving, with eight driver changes in the past decade and widely viewed as tailored to Verstappen’s strengths, making it an uncomfortable environment for teammates to thrive.

Oscar Piastri and Mark Webber ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil. Source: Getty

Aston Martin is also locked in for 2026, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll set to continue. While Alonso has hinted that 2026 could be his final season, Stroll has dismissed retirement talk as “fake news,” limiting immediate openings.

Meanwhile, reports in Italy had already linked Webber to discussions with Ferrari. But McLaren still holds the strongest hand. Back-to-back constructors’ titles in 2024 and 2025 have made it the benchmark team, and leaving the most competitive car on the grid would carry obvious risk.

---

Oscar Piastri says he would “rather be a bit uncomfortable” at McLaren heading into 2026

Oscar Piastri and Zak Brown, McLaren CEO, ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP. Source: Getty

The 2025 season featured several flashpoints between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, including their clash in Canada that ended Norris’ race, a position swap request in Monza, and contact on the opening lap in Singapore. McLaren’s decision to let both drivers race freely until the final round created tense situations, but the team resisted naming a clear priority.

Speaking after the season, Piastri acknowledged the pressure but made it clear that he saw value in it.

“I think when you're in this kind of position, yes, there's there's pressure involved,” Piastri said in F1 Beyond the Grid podcast. (4:35 onwards) “It's tough. It's uncomfortable at times, but, I'd much rather be a bit uncomfortable at times and fighting for a world championship than, trying to scrape a few points every now and again.”

At 24, and only three years into his F1 career, Oscar Piastri leaves 2025 having learned hard lessons in a title fight while remaining part of the sport’s most competitive team.

Edited by Hitesh Nigam