IndyCar veteran Will Power ended his 17-year journey with Team Penske after unsuccessful contract renewal discussions that concluded following the 2025 season. The Will Power Team Penske exit came after prolonged negotiations with Roger Penske and his management, which ultimately left Power seeking opportunities elsewhere, while the storied team prepared for a major lineup change.
The last race of the 2025 season marked the closing chapter of Power’s contract with Penske. During the lead-up, Power aligned himself with Fernando Alonso’s A14 management group, appointing former IndyCar driver Oriol Servia as his manager, signaling his intent to secure his future within top-tier motorsport as further uncertainty loomed.
Contract talks between Power and Team Penske dragged on without a clear resolution, leaving Power’s future undecided well into the season’s final stretch. Only after the checkered flag fell did the news break that Power and Penske would go their separate ways, ending a relationship that brought numerous championships and iconic moments to both parties.
David Malukas Steps in as Penske Sets High Expectations
With Will Power’s departure announced, Team Penske swiftly moved to sign David Malukas, who had impressed during his previous campaign with AJ Foyt Racing, a Penske-affiliated team. Malukas, identified as a rising talent, has now been entrusted with the coveted Penske seat, inheriting a legacy shaped by Power’s years of achievements.
Oriol Servia, now Power’s manager, appeared on the Racer’s Debrief podcast to reflect on Penske’s environment and the pressures Malukas will encounter. Servia highlighted the different levels of expectation for upcoming drivers Dennis Hauger and Caio Collet, comparing their situations to Malukas’s challenge with Penske.
“That’s why maybe going to a team that, of course, they want to perform and they (Hauger and Collet) expect it to do great. But it’s not the same situation you were talking about with Malukas at Penske, that there is the added pressure that, yes, you are expected to deliver. You’re not here to learn.”
– Oriol Servia, Manager
Servia did not hold back in describing the standards set by Penske leadership, making it clear that Malukas cannot afford a learning curve and must contribute immediately.
“When you get into one of the top four that we’re talking about, you are expected. Sorry, dude, if you skip a couple of years to get here, somehow, good for you, but I don’t care. You’re here to deliver 10 out of 10,”
added Servia
Andretti Global Welcomes Power, Shifting IndyCar Dynamics
While Will Power settles into his new role with Andretti Global, David Malukas, as his Penske successor, now takes charge of the historic #12 Chevrolet. Colton Herta‘s move to a reserve driver role in F1 and participation in F2 for 2026 left a vacant seat that Power fills at Andretti, signifying significant shifts across teams ahead of the new season. Bryan Herta, Colton’s father and a long-time presence at Andretti, expressed how Power’s arrival could rejuvenate the squad.
“Now Will coming in is a different dynamic because here’s a guy who’s got 71 pole positions, championships, Indy 500 wins. He’s got a level of success and little bit of gravitas which comes with that’s going to change the dynamic within the team and I think that’ll be a positive. I’m not expecting that he’s going to come in and pull Kyle aside and coach him but I think his leadership by example on a guy who’s been there, done that achieved.”
— Bryan Herta, Andretti Global
Paddock Reactions and What Awaits the 2026 Season
With Power’s exit, Team Penske embarks on a new chapter, anchoring its hopes on Malukas’s ability to deliver under pressure and maintain the team’s tradition of excellence. Meanwhile, Oriol Servia’s blunt assessments illustrate the intense scrutiny and relentless performance culture prevalent at the top level of IndyCar, a reality Malukas must quickly adapt to.
The combination of Will Power joining Andretti Global, fresh blood in Team Penske’s roster, and the ongoing reshuffling of drivers like Colton Herta and the rookies Dennis Hauger and Caio Collet, all point toward a turbulent and fiercely competitive upcoming season. As the paddock braces for the 2026 campaign, all eyes will remain on Malukas to see whether he meets the “10 out of 10” expectations now on his shoulders, and on Power as he aims to drive Andretti Global forward.
