Ralf Schumacher has commented on Oscar Piastri’s alleged uncertain situation at McLaren, suggesting that if trust between the Australian driver and the team has broken down, a departure could follow.

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher said that once trust is lost between a driver and a team, “consequences need to follow,” and parting ways might be the best option.

He also noted that Piastri has faced heavy criticism and online backlash in recent weeks, which could influence his decision.

Schumacher went on to say that Aston Martin could represent a realistic next step for Piastri, claiming that talks, he understands, are “already happening.” He said the British outfit is “urgently looking for a change around 2026 or after 2026,” mentioning both Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as potential candidates for the team’s future line-up.

With Max Verstappen rapidly closing the gap in the 2025 championship fight, McLaren leaders Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have addressed how they would react if the Red Bull driver managed to overtake their pair of title contenders, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen has reduced his deficit from 104 points to just 36 over five race weekends, putting himself in contention for a historic comeback.

Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Stella said that if Verstappen wins, the team would take pride in knowing they gave their best effort, vowing to come back stronger next year.

Brown added that if they were to lose, he would “shake [Verstappen’s] hand and say ‘job well done’,” emphasizing that McLaren’s focus is on competing fairly, not playing favourites.

Referring to the team’s infamous 2007 title loss, Brown said McLaren will not impose team orders, declaring, “We’re racers. We’re going racing.”

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