Will Power delivered Team Penske its first victory of the 2025 IndyCar season at the Grand Prix of Portland, but he did not mince words when describing his team’s ongoing struggles, signaling deep concern for Team Penske 2025 season struggles. The seasoned Australian driver critiqued Team Penske’s performance, highlighting disappointing results and uncertainty—both for the team and his own contract status—as the series heads into its final races.
Team Penske’s Difficult 2025 Campaign and Underperforming Drivers
Power’s win marked a rare bright moment for Team Penske in a season dominated by difficulties. Scott McLaughlin, once predicted by many—including his rival Alex Palou and Colton Herta—to chase the championship, has failed to secure a race win in 2025. In contrast, Palou has claimed eight victories and run away with the championship lead, leaving McLaughlin lagging far behind.
McLaughlin’s challenging year is evident in the standings, where he sits outside the Top 10 and has not matched his teammate’s results. Will Power, currently sixth in the points, stands as Penske’s only race winner this year, underscoring the team‘s broader issues with performance and reliability.
Among the top IndyCar teams—Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti Global, and Arrow McLaren—Team Penske has been the slowest to taste victory. This lackluster season has been plagued by unforced errors, mechanical setbacks, and, most significantly, the Indy 500 attenuator controversy that culminated in the dismissal of several senior team members, including Tim Cindric.
Will Power’s Take on Penske’s Season and McLaughlin’s Struggles
Speaking with Conor Daly on the Speed Street podcast, Will Power did not hold back when asked about the biggest surprises—both positive and negative—throughout the 2025 IndyCar season. Addressing his teammate’s disappointing year, Power stated:
“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, Driver
Continuing his candid assessment of the team’s collective problems and limited success in 2025, Power added:
“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,” added Will Power
Uncertainty Surrounding Will Power’s Contract and Future at Penske
Will Power’s leadership within the team is set against a backdrop of contract uncertainty: his deal with Team Penske will expire at the end of the current season. Despite being the standout performer among Penske drivers in 2025, he has not received an extension, which adds another layer of tension as the campaign nears its close.
Roger Penske acknowledged earlier in the year that the organization is exploring alternatives for the future. At the same time, Power has stated that he is being approached by other teams for 2026, amplifying speculation about a possible departure.
Providing insight into the situation, Power’s wife, Liz, commented:
“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,” said Power’s wife Liz. (Via IndyStar)
With only two races remaining—the finale set to take place in Nashville—insiders suggest that any announcement concerning Power’s future with Team Penske will be made either at, or immediately after, the season’s conclusion.
Broader Implications for Team Penske and the IndyCar Title Race
The turbulence within Team Penske underscores the challenges faced by even the most historic racing organizations in a highly competitive era. The high-profile exit of senior staff, ongoing reliability woes, and a season of on-track disappointments have left team figures such as Roger Penske, Tim Cindric, and the driver roster under immense scrutiny.
If Team Penske fails to stabilize before the 2026 campaign, the organization risks further stagnation in results compared to chief rivals like Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti Global, and Arrow McLaren. Meanwhile, Will Power’s situation—one watched closely by fans and competitors alike—could signal a new chapter for both the veteran driver and Team Penske, with repercussions felt throughout the paddock depending on the decisions made at the end of this embattled season.
