World Championship leader Oscar Piastri saw his lead shrink once again during the Singapore Grand Prix. With title rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris on the podium, the Australian found it hard to share in the title joy at McLaren. The team did not intervene when he reported that Norris had overtaken him too aggressively in the opening round. Reportedly, Piastri is already looking behind the scenes to see if he can join Ferrari in the future.
In an article for the Swiss Blick, renowned Formula 1 journalist Roger Benoit examines the transfer market. While most drivers are already secured for the upcoming season, there are still some seats to be filled. For instance, Mercedes has not yet handed out contracts for 2026. Toto Wolff revealed after the race weekend in Singapore that both Russell and Antonelli are ‘confirmed’ for next year, but an official announcement is still pending.
According to Benoit, discussions are already taking place for the distant future. At title holder McLaren, both drivers have a contract for 2026, although Piastri’s expires next year. “At McLaren, everything is clear, both drivers are staying,” writes the Swiss. “However, Piastri has already set his sights on Ferrari for 2027,” he adds. The question is whether a spot will open up at the Scuderia by then. Charles Leclerc was recently linked to a transfer, although it is also plausible that Lewis Hamilton will retire in 2027. Given his current performance at Ferrari, his future is uncertain.
