Oscar Piastri ‘Flattered’ by Red Bull Interest but Commits to McLaren Future

Oscar Piastri says he’s “flattered” by rumours suggesting he could leave McLaren to join Red Bull should Max Verstappen depart, before dismissing the speculation.

The Australian is currently tied to a long-term McLaren deal until at least the end of 2028, having signed the extension ahead of his first title challenge alongside teammate and eventual world champion Lando Norris last year.

However, following the Miami Grand Prix, a report from Autosport suggested Red Bull’s priority target for 2027, should Verstappen leave, would be Piastri.

“It is news to me, yes,” Piastri said while speaking to media ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

“There’s obviously not been any discussions or anything, but it’s flattering, and there’s not really much more than that.

“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 25-year-old has amassed nine grand prix victories in just 72 starts and recently rebounded from a pair of DNFs at the beginning of the 2026 campaign with podium finishes in Japan and Miami. McLaren’s own trajectory has also improved, with the reigning constructors’ champions aiming to close the gap to Mercedes.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown also dismissed speculation surrounding Piastri potentially leaving for Red Bull, speaking to The Athletic ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

“I would imagine there’s not a team on the grid that wouldn’t want to have Oscar and Lando driving for them,” Brown said.

“My general view, contracts aside, [is] our job is to create an environment where our drivers don’t want to drive anywhere else, or for that matter, our employees or our sponsors don’t want to sponsor another team.

“My job – our job – is to create an environment where you go, ‘Well, you’ve got a contract.’ Yes, we have that anyways, for the record.”

Piastri currently sits sixth in the championship on 43 points, trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 56 after the Italian won the last three races in succession.

As for Verstappen and the possibility of leaving Red Bull or even Formula 1 altogether, the Dutchman appeared to soften his stance ahead of Canada, saying that the sport’s decision to pursue a 60/40 split between internal combustion and electrical power for 2027 “definitely” increases his chances of remaining in the sport.

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Written by

Jawad Yaqub

An eCommerce Specialist by day and reporting on F1 by night. Jawad is passionate about motorsport, having provided accredited F1 coverage for more than a decade and is a member of the AIPS (International Sports Press Association). Live blogging (almost) every grand prix too since 2014, as well as articles on the Supercars Championship. Also keen on sustainability, photography, collecting vinyl, (trying to) expertly barbeque and learning to Dad.

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