Oscar Piastri warned over risky Red Bull gamble as McLaren enters prime
Former F1 figures caution Oscar Piastri that leaving McLaren for Red Bull may backfire, with the team entering its strongest phase and a long-term contract already in place.
Oscar Piastri faces a career crossroads amid rumors of a swap with Max Verstappen to Red Bull, but former F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer and Ferrari veteran Rob Smedley warn that leaving McLaren could be a costly mistake.
Why it matters:
McLaren has emerged as a consistent frontrunner, with a 1-2 finish in Miami and upgrades that put it ahead of Red Bull. For Piastri, moving to a team with a currently weaker car would risk his championship prospects, even if it means escaping comparisons to Lando Norris.
The details:
- Szafnauer noted that Piastri and Norris are “pretty equal” but questioned whether a driver should leave a top team to become number one elsewhere.
- Smedley emphasized that McLaren is “entering its pomp” and could win multiple constructors’ titles, making it a poor time to exit.
- Piastri signed a multi-year contract extension last year, and CEO Zak Brown has made clear he has no intention of altering the lineup.
- The rumored swap would see Verstappen move to McLaren, but Brown insists both drivers are integral to the team’s success.
What's next:
With McLaren’s current form and long-term stability, Piastri is likely to remain at Woking for the foreseeable future. However, if Red Bull’s performance rebounds, the dynamic could shift. For now, the advice is clear: stay put.
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