Oscar Piastri isn’t “out” of Formula 1 or out of McLaren for 2026; he’s still a McLaren race driver and is active heading into the new season.

Why people are asking “why is Piastri out?”

This question is trending because of a few recent and late‑2025 situations that made it look like Piastri was “out” in different ways.

1. Missing from some sessions or moments

At times, Piastri has been absent from specific track sessions or visible celebrations, which easily fuels confusion online.

  • He sat out Abu Dhabi FP1 in late 2025 so McLaren could run reserve driver Pato O’Ward and meet the rookie‑session regulations, not because he’d been dropped.
  • He was not seen in some post‑race celebration footage, which McLaren later explained as down to timing and media duties rather than any internal fallout.

In fan forums, clips like these quickly turn into threads titled “why is Piastri out?” even when he is still racing that same weekend.

2. Rumours about leaving McLaren

There have also been strong rumours and opinion pieces suggesting he could one day leave McLaren for another top team, especially Ferrari.

  • A Swiss report picked up in October 2025 linked Piastri to a possible Ferrari move around 2027, based on future uncertainty with Ferrari’s line‑up.
  • Ex‑driver Juan Pablo Montoya publicly speculated that Piastri and his manager were already sounding out rival teams, framing it as normal career positioning rather than evidence that he was already “out”.
  • Despite this, Piastri signed an extended McLaren deal running to at least the end of 2028, which would require some kind of exit clause to move.

So, talk of him being “out” of McLaren is mostly speculation and long‑term transfer gossip, not a confirmed change for 2026.

What’s actually happening with Piastri in 2026?

Right now, the clear picture is that he remains a leading McLaren driver and a central part of the 2026 F1 grid.

  • He narrowly missed the 2025 drivers’ title and goes into 2026 as a proven race winner and title contender.
  • In a recent interview he said he has “nothing to prove” and stressed he won’t adopt a rebellious attitude after losing the 2025 championship to Lando Norris, underlining his commitment to the team.
  • He has been actively commenting on the 2026 rule changes and new start procedures, which only makes sense if he is racing under the new regulations.

In short: Piastri is in F1 and in McLaren for 2026; any “out” talk is tied to isolated missed sessions, celebration absences, or long‑term transfer chatter, not an actual exit.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.