Oscar Piastri considers activating McLaren release clause to leave team

Oscar Piastri is considering activating a release clause to terminate his McLaren contract ahead of the Formula 1 summer break following growing frustrations with the team.

The Australian driver’s current deal with the Woking outfit runs until 2028.

However, a performance-based exit clause reportedly allows him to leave if he sits outside the top five in the drivers’ championship by the summer break.

The 24-year-old currently occupies sixth place with just two races remaining before the mid-season shutdown.

Reports in the motorsport media state the driver is weighing up “activating his release clause and terminating his contract” to secure an immediate exit.

Fractured relationships and team orders

Tensions have been mounting within the McLaren camp over the application of their internal ‘papaya rules’.

These guidelines are designed to ensure clean racing between teammates, but they have controversially been used to order Piastri to yield to Lando Norris.

The situation was exacerbated at the end of the 2025 season when the Melbourne-born racer lost out on the championship to his British counterpart.

Furthermore, a failure to maintain their previous pace this year has exposed internal friction between the team’s leadership and Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber.

Could Verstappen replace Piastri?

A departure for Piastri could trigger a seismic driver swap, paving the way for Max Verstappen to join McLaren.

The Dutch world champion has cut an equally frustrated figure at Red Bull while openly criticising their RB22 car.

Like his McLaren counterpart, the Red Bull star possesses a similar performance clause that permits a mid-season departure.

Verstappen is already eligible to activate his own exit option after failing to secure a top-two championship position ahead of the impending break.