Oscar Piastri ‘Flattered’ by Red Bull Interest as Verstappen Replacement But Insists He’s Happy at McLaren

Oscar Piastri has responded to reports linking him with a move to Red Bull, describing the rumoured interest as flattering but insisting he remains fully committed to McLaren and has had no direct discussions with the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Speaking in the paddock ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, the Australian acknowledged the reports but distanced himself from any suggestion of active negotiations. “It is news to me, yes,” Piastri said. “There’s obviously not been any discussions or anything, but it’s flattering and there’s not really much more than that, really. I think, hopefully, it proves my stock as a driver, which is a nice thing, but I’m very happy with where I am. I’ve got a lot of confidence in this team that we are going to be able to win races and, hopefully, championships in the future, so I’m very happy where I am.”

The backdrop to Piastri’s comments is a report by Autosport earlier this month that Red Bull have identified the 24-year-old as a target should Max Verstappen depart the team. During the Miami Grand Prix weekend, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed that pursuing Piastri was being considered as a contingency in the event Red Bull lost its four-time world champion — whether through a switch to a rival constructor, a sabbatical, or a full exit from Formula 1.

Verstappen, who is contracted to Red Bull through the end of 2028, has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with F1’s new regulations introduced in 2026, stating earlier this season that he had “life decisions” to make following a difficult start to the new rules cycle. His contract is understood to contain several performance-related break clauses, adding further uncertainty to his long-term future at the team.

However, comments made by Verstappen on Thursday at the Canadian Grand Prix suggest his outlook may be shifting. The Dutchman pointed to proposed changes to the 2027 power unit regulations — which would see a 60-40 split between combustion power and electric energy — as a positive development. “It will make the product better, so that means that I’m happier and that’s what I want to be able to continue in Formula 1,” Verstappen said. “Yes or no? Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m happy where I’m at. I see the team really progressing and that’s also very exciting to see. And for me, I always wanted to continue anyway, but I always wanted to see change.”

Piastri is currently under contract with McLaren until the end of the 2027 season. His rise through the F1 grid has been swift — the reigning Formula 2 champion made his debut with McLaren in 2023 following a high-profile contractual dispute that ultimately saw him leave Alpine before driving a single race for them. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most highly regarded young talents in the paddock, contributing to McLaren’s resurgence as a competitive force in recent seasons.

With Verstappen’s future still carrying an element of uncertainty despite his more positive recent statements, Red Bull’s reported interest in Piastri underscores the broader driver market dynamics that could reshape the grid ahead of the 2027 regulations change. For now, however, Piastri’s position appears clear — he remains focused on delivering results with McLaren and sees no reason to look elsewhere.