Loading
Oscar Piastri has confirmed that he spoke to Red Bull amid speculation that Max Verstappen could leave the team and join McLaren for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
The situation placed Piastri’s McLaren seat under scrutiny earlier this season. McLaren CEO Zak Brown opened talks with Verstappen, a move that would have been a natural part of his responsibility as the team assessed every available option involving a four-time champion. Although it was widely suggested that Piastri, rather than defending F1 champion Lando Norris, could have been the driver most at risk if Verstappen arrived, the scenario has now been removed from the immediate equation.
Verstappen has signed a new Red Bull contract that could keep him with the team through 2030. The extension ended the central uncertainty around the potential transfer, as reported in Verstappen’s Red Bull extension brings ‘silly season’ to an early end.
Piastri said he was “never really worried” about losing his McLaren seat to Verstappen. However, according to Auto Action, he has confirmed that he also spoke to Red Bull to gauge the team’s interest in his services if Verstappen activated an exit clause in his previous agreement and moved to McLaren.
A possible Piastri switch to Red Bull had been discussed before the Verstappen-to-McLaren storyline emerged. Reports had also suggested that the Australian was considering a move for 2027 after his 2025 title bid collapsed.
Speculation intensified as Verstappen criticised the 2026 engine regulations and Red Bull’s RB22 was described as “undrivable” during the season. Piastri’s agent, Mark Webber, dismissed reports of a direct seat swap as “nonsense” when McLaren’s talks with Verstappen became public.
Piastri has nevertheless left open the possibility of a future departure. He believes McLaren is the “best place” for him to succeed at the moment, but he is unsure whether he could spend 15 years with the team in the way Verstappen has remained with Red Bull.
“We’ve got a great relationship. And ultimately, you want to be in the best place you can for success, and at the moment, I feel like McLaren is definitely the best place for that,” Piastri said.
His comments underline a clear distinction: McLaren remains his first choice today, but the driver is not presenting that commitment as a permanent guarantee.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.