In what can only be described as the biggest bombshell of the 2025 Formula 1 season, rising star Oscar Piastri has secretly signed a deal with Ferrari — a move that could shake the very foundations of the F1 grid.
Sources close to both camps confirm that the clandestine agreement was finalized in Austin, Texas, mere hours after the United States Grand Prix. The signing reportedly took place behind closed doors at the Fairmont Austin Hotel, in a private suite guarded by Ferrari security personnel.
🕛 Timeline of the bombshell:
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October 19, 2025 — 9:47 PM: Piastri was seen entering the hotel wearing a plain black hoodie, accompanied by his manager Mark Webber.
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11:56 PM: He exited discreetly, carrying what eyewitnesses described as a Ferrari-branded laptop case.
Within those two hours, history was made — and McLaren was left completely blindsided.
🕵️♂️ The Deal Ferrari Didn’t Want You to Know About
Insiders claim the secret pre-contract, dubbed “Project Oro Rosso” (Italian for “Red Gold”), guarantees Piastri a multi-year deal starting from 2026, right as the new F1 regulations come into effect.
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur personally oversaw the meeting, along with senior Ferrari strategists — all operating under strict confidentiality clauses to prevent leaks.
But what pushed Piastri to make this career-defining switch?
⚡ The Breaking Point at McLaren
According to sources close to the paddock, the final straw came during the Austin Grand Prix, when a botched pit stop call cost Piastri valuable championship points — while Lando Norris was given preferential treatment.
Mark Webber, Piastri’s fiercely protective manager, reportedly accused McLaren of using his driver as a “data mule” — collecting setup information for Norris’s benefit while compromising Piastri’s race strategy.
Within 48 hours, Webber activated “Project Oro Rosso,” contacting Ferrari to finalize negotiations that had quietly begun weeks earlier.
💣 Fallout Inside McLaren
The aftermath has been devastating for McLaren’s internal dynamics.
Team boss Zak Brown is said to have been furious upon learning of the deal, while Norris reportedly stormed out of a debrief session after a heated exchange with Piastri’s camp.
The atmosphere inside the Woking-based team has turned toxic, with engineers unsure which driver to prioritize in the remaining races.
One McLaren insider described the mood as “a ticking time bomb ready to explode.”
🏎️ Ferrari’s Masterstroke
For Ferrari, this move is nothing short of strategic brilliance. Pairing Charles Leclerc with Oscar Piastri gives the Scuderia a youthful, lethal lineup for the new era of F1 — combining raw speed with intelligence and adaptability.
With major regulation changes coming in 2026, Ferrari’s early coup could make them the team to beat in the next generation of the sport.
🔥 What Happens Next?
All eyes now turn to Mexico City, where the F1 circus lands next.
Piastri will be under immense pressure as reporters swarm him for answers. Will he deny the deal — or will Ferrari confirm it in the coming days?
Meanwhile, McLaren faces the impossible task of keeping their title hopes alive with a driver who already has one foot out the door.
🏁 Make no mistake — this changes everything.
The Oscar Piastri–Ferrari alliance could redefine the balance of power in Formula 1 for years to come.
McLaren’s dream season has turned into a nightmare, and Ferrari may have just pulled off the biggest heist in modern F1 history.
