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Steiner warns Piastri’s McLaren future may hinge on 2027
Guenther Steiner says another season like 2026 could put Oscar Piastri under pressure at McLaren, with the Australian currently seventh in the standings.
Oscar Piastri could face a serious test of his place at McLaren if he has another difficult season in 2027, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has warned.
Piastri fought for the world championship in 2025, but his current campaign has taken a sharp turn. With three rounds remaining, he is seventh in the standings and no longer in contention for second place.
Steiner made the assessment on The Red Flags Podcast, where he was asked about the Australian’s prospects. He said another year at the same level could prompt McLaren CEO Zak Brown to search for a replacement, but noted that the team would first need to identify the right candidate. That's a whole other debate.
This concern for Piastri follows a season in which his results have attracted scrutiny. F1LivePulse has also examined Piastri’s 2026 deficit and McLaren’s possible responsibility, and tracked speculation around his long-term place at the team in reports of McLaren exit rumours.
Lawson is tied to Racing Bulls for 2027
Steiner floated Liam Lawson as a possible name, but the New Zealander has been retained by Racing Bulls for 2027, where he will partner rookie Arvid Lindblad. That means a move to McLaren would not be possible until later. Steiner also pointed to Haas driver Oliver Bearman as another young talent with options. Especially after rumours of Bearman's camp's frustrations with Ferrari.
Asked about the prospect of Brown bringing back Carlos Sainz to partner Piastri’s current team-mate Lando Norris, Steiner suggested McLaren would be more likely to pursue a younger driver. He also credited Brown with an ability to spot young talent and said the team preferred to secure drivers at a low cost. Plus, they have a roster of young rookies to choose from.
Piastri sits seventh with three rounds left
The standings underline the scale of Piastri’s slump. He has 152 points, while Kimi Antonelli clinched the title at the Mexican Grand Prix. The battle for second remains open: Max Verstappen is on 279 points, George Russell on 262, Lewis Hamilton on 261, Charles Leclerc on 249 and Norris on 246.
But Steiner’s warning is conditional rather than a prediction of an immediate change. However, with Piastri’s 2026 campaign a far cry from his title challenge the previous year, another season at this level could put his future at McLaren into sharper focus.