After a complicated end to the season for Oscar Piastri, comments from a former McLaren driver have reignited doubts about the Australian’s long-term future in Formula 1.
The future of Oscar Piastri has suddenly returned to the centre of the Formula 1 debate. Fueling fresh speculation is Juan Pablo Montoya, a former McLaren driver, who has put forward a theory that is bound to make headlines now that the 2025 season has officially come to an end.
According to the Colombian, the Australian driver may already be evaluating alternatives away from Woking. “I guarantee you that Oscar Piastri and Mark Webber are already talking to another Formula 1 team,” Montoya stated bluntly.
It is a strong and provocative stance, coming after a particularly bitter final phase of the season for Oscar Piastri. The Australian had finished the middle portion of the championship with a 34-point advantage in the standings, only to lose ground during the decisive stretch. A dip in form, combined with the strong rise of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, proved costly, with the British driver ultimately going on to secure the world title.
Internal dynamics at McLaren have not always been straightforward. First came the Monza episode, with a controversial swap of positions, followed by the Singapore incident, where Piastri was pushed wide at the start by Norris himself. Situations the team quickly moved past, but which, according to Montoya, may have left lingering effects.
“I don’t think Mark Webber is happy with how McLaren is managing Oscar’s development,” Montoya added. “Mark is not very pleased with the situation. The real question is: how unhappy is Oscar?”
The reference to Webber is far from accidental. Oscar Piastri’s manager experienced similar dynamics first-hand during his time at Red Bull, when he was team-mate to Sebastian Vettel. “They need to be careful that Webber’s scars as a driver don’t influence Oscar’s career,” Montoya underlined.
On the other hand, McLaren continues to project confidence. CEO Zak Brown has publicly reiterated that Oscar Piastri will win “multiple world titles” with the team, reinforcing the belief that the Australian remains central to McLaren’s long-term plans.
Between reassuring statements from the team and increasingly persistent rumours from the paddock, one thing is clear: Oscar Piastri’s future is far from guaranteed. And the driver market could deliver surprises sooner than many expect.
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