Will Power secured the win at the 2025 Grand Prix of Portland, becoming the first driver from Team Penske to claim a race victory this year. Following his success in Portland, Power openly addressed the challenging performance of Scott McLaughlin and the Penske team during the 2025 season, describing it as a period marked by underachievement.
Scott McLaughlin entered the season as a strong contender alongside drivers like Alex Palou and Colton Herta. However, it has been Palou who dominated the championship with eight wins, while McLaughlin has yet to secure a single race victory this year. Despite high expectations, McLaughlin’s results have fallen below those of his own teammate Power, who currently ranks sixth in the standings, whereas McLaughlin is outside the top ten.
Team Penske faces broader challenges amid fierce competition
Team Penske as a whole has encountered numerous obstacles throughout the 2025 season. The team was the last among major competitors—including Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti Global, and Arrow McLaren—to record a race win. Issues such as reliability problems and unforced errors have compounded the team’s difficulties. Moreover, the controversy surrounding the Indy 500 attenuator led to significant internal changes, resulting in the dismissal of three senior members, notably including Tim Cindric.
On Conor Daly’s Speed Street podcast, Will Power reflected on the most surprising aspects of the season, both positive and negative. When asked about the biggest shock, he singled out Scott McLaughlin’s performance this year.
“I mean, probably the year McLaughlin’s had. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I would have said, I would have said that he was going to be an absolute, you know, championship contender at the end of last year.” —Will Power
“I was like, but yeah, that’s the whole team. Like, you know, we’ve all struggled. You know, just look at the whole Penske situation, it was just shocking. We just won our first race now. I’ve only got two to go. So, I think, oh yeah, just that,” —Will Power
Uncertainty surrounds Will Power’s contract status beyond 2025
Despite being Team Penske‘s top-performing driver in 2025, Will Power’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and no extension has yet been offered. Earlier in the year, Roger Penske indicated the team was assessing its future options. Meanwhile, Power has confirmed contact from several other teams regarding his availability for the 2026 season.
“Well, just because you see there’s interest in Will. There’s a lot of interest in Will. (Other teams outside Penske) see his worth. I think he’s handling this, in whatever which way it goes, so we’ll see what happens at the last race,” —Liz, Will Power’s wife
With only two races remaining in the 2025 calendar, details about Power’s continuation with Team Penske are expected to become clearer around or after the upcoming race in Nashville.
Implications for Team Penske and future seasons
The struggles of Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske this year underscore a significant shift in the team’s competitiveness within the IndyCar series. Their delayed first race victory combined with internal upheaval reveals ongoing challenges heading into the final stages of the season. The contract situation surrounding Will Power adds another layer of uncertainty for the team’s 2026 lineup and strategy. How Team Penske addresses these issues will be crucial as they aim to regain their status as championship contenders.