McLaren has initiated a major overhaul of its driver development program by adding fresh young talent. However, whispers continue to swirl around one of its biggest F1 stars, Oscar Piastri, and the move feels like an interesting mix of timing and strategy with McLaren clearly thinking about both today and tomorrow.
Matteo De Palo Joins the McLaren Ranks
The British team recently announced that 18-year-old Matteo De Palo will join the McLaren Driver Development Programme after the Italian teenager made a big impression this season by finishing runner-up in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship. That result marked a career-best for De Palo since his move to single-seaters in 2023.
Next year, De Palo will step up to Formula Three with Trident, which McLaren will back. He’s also set to take part in this weekend’s Macau Grand Prix, which is one of the biggest events in junior racing with the Woking team’s full support.
“Joining the McLaren Driver Development Programme is a great honor,” De Palo said. “The team have a fantastic track record for developing talent, so I am excited to grow across all elements of being a racing driver. Thank you to Zak, Alessandro and the entire McLaren team. I am excited to get out on track in papaya.”
Along with De Palo’s arrival, McLaren confirmed that three young drivers, Ugo Ugochukwu, Martinius Stenshorne, and Brando Badoer, will be parting ways with the academy at the end of the season.
Program director Alessandro Alunni Bravi called De Palo an “exciting young talent” and praised his consistency and growth over the past few seasons while also adding that McLaren looks forward to helping the young driver develop both on and off the track.
The Woking-based team’s driver program has a strong history of producing world-class racers, such as Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Kevin Magnussen, and Stoffel Vandoorne, who have all progressed through its ranks, demonstrating the team’s commitment to nurturing new talent.
Oscar Piastri’s Future Is a Growing Question Mark
While McLaren’s academy is getting a fresh face, the team’s current F1 lineup is dealing with uncertainty as Piastri has found himself in a rough patch.
The Australian star was leading the 2025 championship in August but hasn’t won a single race since the Dutch Grand Prix. Over the last few months, things have only gone downhill, which has led to him falling behind teammate Norris in the standings.
At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Piastri’s frustration grew after he was handed a 10-second penalty for a collision that ended Charles Leclerc’s race, “I need to review honestly with some attention. For the moment, we respect the decision of the stewards, and we need to take it on the chin and look forward.”
Recent reports from outlets like ‘Blick’ suggested that Piastri might already be looking at life beyond McLaren, with Ferrari rumored as a possible destination. Although he has signed a deal keeping him at McLaren until 2026, F1 contracts often change when the right opportunity arises.
Ferrari could open up a seat for 2027 as both Leclerc and Hamilton’s futures remain uncertain beyond 2026, and if that happens, Piastri’s name could easily be part of the conversation.
McLaren Prepares for What’s Next
In that sense, McLaren’s decision to revamp its academy looks like a smart play as bringing in a promising young driver like De Palo not only strengthens the team’s future but also adds a sense of security in case things shift at the top level.
McLaren has built a reputation for spotting and developing talent before anyone else, and this move fits that pattern perfectly. Whether Piastri stays or eventually moves on, McLaren appears determined to secure and maintain its future competitiveness.
The timing of the academy shake-up and the ongoing rumors around Piastri might just be a coincidence. Still, in F1, timing is everything, and the Papaya team already appears to be thinking a few steps ahead.
