Will Power secured victory at the 2025 Grand Prix of Portland, becoming the first Team Penske driver to win a race this season. Following this win, Power spoke candidly about Team Penske struggles and Scott McLaughlin’s unexpected difficulties during a challenging year for both the driver and the team.
Scott McLaughlin entered the season as one of the leading contenders for the 2025 IndyCar championship, alongside Alex Palou and Colton Herta. However, the Spaniard has dominated the title race with eight wins so far, while McLaughlin has yet to claim a victory. This underperformance marks a dramatic deviation from expectations given his status as a preseason favorite.
Currently, McLaughlin sits outside the top 10 in the championship standings, trailing not only Palou but also his Team Penske teammate Will Power. Power’s recent win in Portland makes him the only Penske driver to have won a race this year, and he holds sixth place overall in the championship.
Team Penske’s season has been fraught with numerous problems, placing them behind other strong teams such as Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti Global, and Arrow McLaren when it comes to race victories. Reliability issues, costly mistakes, and the fallout from the Indy 500 attenuator scandal have compounded the team’s struggles. As a result, three senior members, including President Tim Cindric, were dismissed amid the turmoil.
Will Power Reflects on McLaughlin’s Decline and Team Penske’s Difficult Season
In a recent episode of Conor Daly’s Speed Street podcast, Will Power addressed the surprising challenges faced by Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske in 2025. When asked about the most unexpected positive and negative elements of the season, Power highlighted McLaughlin’s significant drop from being a championship contender to struggling:
“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
Power’s remarks shed light on the widespread difficulties faced by Team Penske this season, emphasizing both individual and collective underperformance.
Uncertain Future for Will Power with Team Penske Amid Contract Speculation
Will Power’s contract with Team Penske is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season. Despite being the top-performing driver for Penske this year, Power has yet to receive a contract extension offer. Roger Penske himself has indicated the team is currently evaluating its options as the season winds down.
Moreover, Power has revealed that several other teams have approached him regarding the possibility of joining them in 2026, adding to the speculation about his future in IndyCar.
“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 season, the clarity about Power’s status with Team Penske is expected to emerge around or after the final round in Nashville, marking a crucial juncture for both the driver and the team.
The unfolding developments at Team Penske not only illustrate the difficulties experienced by one of IndyCar’s top squads but also raise questions about the future dynamics within the team. Power’s insights and achievements amid adversity underline his resilience, while McLaughlin’s season highlights how unpredictable and demanding the championship can be.
