Rumors about Oscar Piastri’s future at McLaren have been circulating for some time. The Australian was even linked to a driver swap with Max Verstappen, which would reportedly see the 25-year-old driver move to Red Bull. Complete nonsense, according to Piastri’s manager Mark Webber: “A lot of nonsense is being written about him and other teams.”
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Oscar Piastri has been driving for McLaren since 2023. The Australian competed for the title for the first time two years later but had to watch teammate Lando Norris, with a lead of only thirteen championship points, crowned world champion in Abu Dhabi. Since then, rumors about Piastri’s further future at McLaren have been circulating. The Australian was even linked to a driver swap with Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
However, Piastri still has a multi-year contract with McLaren and confirmed during the British GP that he is still happy with the papayas: “I have a contract, and I have heard several times from the team that they are very satisfied with me and I am also very satisfied with the team.”
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‘A lot of nonsense is being written’
His manager Mark Webber – himself a Red Bull driver between 2007 and 2013 – emphasizes the contract situation of his protégé Piastri. “Oscar is under contract with McLaren for the near future,” the nine-time Grand Prix winner tells RACER. “The rumor that he would be pushing for a departure is nonsense. A lot of nonsense is being written about him and other teams… McLaren has repeatedly said they want him for the long term and Oscar is focused on that.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown also said earlier that he is satisfied with the current driver lineup of Piastri and Lando Norris at his team. “They are rumors,” Brown said about the stories that McLaren is talking with Verstappen. “I am very happy with my two drivers, Lando and Oscar. I think when a name like Max – a four-time world champion – is mentioned, people get quite excited, but I am very happy with our current driver lineup.”
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