Guenther Steiner, the ex-Haas Formula 1 team principal, cautioned that McLaren might drop Oscar Piastri if his 2026 season repeats. Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast on November 12, Steiner stated that the Australian driver sits in a precarious position with only three races left in the year. Piastri currently holds seventh place in the standings with 152 points, a drop from his title fight in 2025. Steiner believes team principal Zak Brown will not hesitate to make a change if performance does not improve.
The conversation on the podcast turned to the pressure facing the 25-year-old. His co-host claimed Piastri faces “a bit of a hot seat” and labeled Brown “kind of a savage” regarding driver swaps. Steiner agreed with the assessment of Brown’s ruthless approach to team management. “If he has got another year like this next year, you’re right. Zak will look for the next Oscar,” Steiner said, according to Motorsport.com. He added a specific name to the list of potential replacements, noting that “I mean, he needs to find him, but maybe Liam Lawson is free.”
Lawson’s Contract Blocks Immediate Move
While Steiner pointed to Liam Lawson as an available option, the reality of the current contract situation complicates any immediate swap. Lawson has already been retained by Racing Bulls for the 2027 season alongside his rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad. This means that even if McLaren wants to sign him, the move could only happen further down the line. Steiner also mentioned Haas driver Oliver Bearman as another driver with options in the future. The former team principal emphasized that Brown prefers to buy young talent cheap and that the CEO is “pretty good at finding young talent.”
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 title at the Mexican Grand Prix, ending the fight early for the top spot. The battle for second place remains active, but Piastri is out of contention for that position. With 279 points, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen holds second place, whereas George Russell takes third with 262 points. Fourth place belongs to Lewis Hamilton with 261 points; fifth is Charles Leclerc with 249 points, and sixth is Lando Norris with 246 points. Piastri trails the leader by over 100 points with limited races remaining.
Brown’s History with Driver Swaps
Steiner’s comments highlight a specific strategy that Zak Brown has used in the past. The McLaren CEO is known for making bold moves to secure the best performance on the grid. Regarding a potential reunion of 2025 champion Lando Norris with old teammate Carlos Sainz, Steiner observed that Brown would probably seek a younger candidate.
The 2026 season has been tougher for Piastri than his 2025 campaign, when he fought for the world title. The remaining three rounds of the season will be critical for Piastri to prove his worth to the team. If he fails to show improvement, the door may open for a new driver to take his place.
