Schumacher breaks down Piastri's future: 'Paddock rumors are clear'
Ralf Schumacher has discussed Oscar Piastri’s current situation at McLaren and what his future could look like if he were to leave the team.
“If a driver has lost trust in the team or vice versa, that’s a clear sign that consequences need to follow”- Ralf Schumacher
The former German driver suggested that if the Australian has indeed lost trust in the team following recent events, moving on could be a real possibility.
“From my perspective, if a driver has lost trust in the team—or vice versa, which can happen—that’s a clear sign that consequences need to follow, and the driver might even need to leave the team,” he said via Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
For Schumacher, Aston Martin could represent a valid option for Piastri: “The rumors in the paddock are clear: Aston Martin is urgently looking for a change around 2026 or after 2026 at the latest. I get the impression that he’s thinking, ‘I’m not putting myself through all this anymore,’ especially with all the criticism and online backlash he’s been facing.
“Naturally, they’re looking for two strong drivers. One candidate is Oscar Piastri—that’s been discussed quite reliably—and of course Charles Leclerc, if he wants it, that’s another option. And who knows, they might even try to find a way to exit a contract early if there’s an alternative line-up for next year. Otherwise, it just doesn’t make sense to stay.”
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A string of poor results, combined with Norris’s resurgence—particularly since Monza and peaking in Mexico—has seen him lose the championship lead, prompting some to even speculate about sabotage.
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