Oscar Piastri warned over risky Red Bull gamble as McLaren enters prime

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.