Oscar Piastri on the grid ahead of the Singapore GP - Photo: Race Pictures

'Red Bull could be behind it' as Piastri shock McLaren exit dubbed a potential ploy

16:11, 15 Oct

Updated: 18:39, 15 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

For Juan Pablo Montoya, former McLaren F1 driver it is easy to imagine Red Bull Racing being behind the Oscar Piastri to Ferrari rumours in a bid to destabilise the papaya team.

“Somebody at Red Bull could be going, ‘This would be a great leak, just to stir up the pot and destabilise McLaren.’"

- Juan Pablo Montoya

Given the context in which some of McLaren's decisions may be interpreted as going against Piastri's best interests and advantaging his teammate Lando Norris, rumours arose which suggested the current championship leader would be looking for an out, with Ferrari presenting itself as a relocation option.

Montoya addressed the rumours and suggested a potential destabilisation ploy could be behind it all, with Red Bull acting as the masterminds.

“The big question there, is it just people stirring the pot, making stories up,” Montoya said. “At the end of the day, it’s a great way of stirring the pot and causing problems for McLaren.

Andrea Stella - Photo: Race Pictures

“It’s a little like what Toto [Wolff] did with Max [Verstappen]. Did he have a genuine chance of getting Max? Who knows. But it made headlines.

“The story about Piastri and Ferrari could be coming from Red Bull, for example.

“Somebody at Red Bull could be going, ‘This would be a great leak, just to stir up the pot and destabilise McLaren.’

The hypothetical Red Bull carried out plot could also yield benefits for Piastri, Montoya argues.

“But at the same time, if you think Oscar is really good and know other teams want him, then this is a great way of saying on behalf of Oscar to McLaren, ‘If you want me, you’ve got to respect me'," Montoya concluded.

Steiner issues advice to Piastri

Former Haas F1 boss, Guenther Steiner, off the back of the rumours that suggested Piastri was trying to get a seat at Ferrari, urged the Aussie driver not to leave the McLaren fold. You can read his reasoning here.

Regarding McLaren's potential preferential treatment toward Norris, F1 world champion and racing icon, Mario Andretti had this to say on the matter.

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