McLaren's internal battle intensifies as former exec urges Piastri to 'look elsewhere'

Former Alpine executive Marcin Budkowski has suggested Oscar Piastri should 'look elsewhere' if internal fighting continues at McLaren, casting a shadow over the team's 2024 ambitions. This comment follows a tense 2023 season where Piastri lost the drivers' championship lead to teammate Lando Norris, raising questions about team dynamics and strategy as the Woking-based outfit aims to build on its recent resurgence.

Why it matters:

McLaren's resurgence as a top team is fragile. Internal conflict between its two star drivers could derail their progress and hand an advantage to rivals like Red Bull and Ferrari. How management handles the delicate balance between supporting a championship leader and fostering healthy competition will be critical to their success this season and beyond, potentially defining the legacy of their current driver lineup.

The details:

• Marcin Budkowski, who was instrumental in Piastri's early career at Alpine, stated that if McLaren repeats the team-order controversies of 2023, Piastri 'should start looking elsewhere'.
• The context stems from last season, where Piastri held a 34-point lead over Norris after the Dutch GP but ultimately lost the championship, fueling speculation about preferential treatment for the more established Norris.
• In other driver news, former McLaren junior Alex Dunne confirmed his exit from the team's driver program was "100%" his own decision, providing clarity on his unexpected departure last October.
• Looking towards the future of the sport, Honda has issued a fresh social media teaser for its full-scale return as a power unit supplier in 2026, having departed at the end of 2021 after powering Max Verstappen to his first title.
• A recent fan poll highlights the skepticism surrounding a legendary career, with 57.1% of respondents believing Lewis Hamilton will not win an unprecedented eighth drivers' title and will retire as a seven-time champion.

Looking Ahead:

All eyes will be on McLaren's internal communications and race strategy as the 2024 season unfolds. How they manage the Piastri-Norris dynamic could be the deciding factor in their championship fight. Further down the line, Honda's 2026 return promises to shake up the grid, while Hamilton's quest for a historic eighth title at Ferrari remains one of the sport's most compelling long-term storylines.