Oscar Piastri has firmly rejected speculation that he could be replaced at McLaren by Max Verstappen, saying he expects to remain with the British team in 2027.
The 25-year-old Australian addressed the rumours during media day ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Asked directly whether he would still be racing for McLaren in 2027, Piastri replied with a simple: “Yes.”
Piastri said McLaren chief executive Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella had been supportive throughout the speculation. “I didn’t realise it was a point of contention,” he said. “I am very comfortable with where I am and where I sit, and Zak and Andrea have been great through that and very reassuring.”
He acknowledged that Verstappen appeared to be exploring his options but said the situation did not concern him. “Clearly, Max is not feeling in a great position at the moment and is exploring options,” Piastri said. “It was the same thing last year with him and Mercedes, so it is nothing new, but I am very happy with where I am and where it is going.”
On the possibility that McLaren could be holding talks with Verstappen behind the scenes, Piastri said he was not bothered. “I trust the team here and the things I’ve been told and the belief in me, so that’s all I really care about,” he said.
Piastri’s manager, former Formula One driver Mark Webber, had earlier dismissed reports his client was seeking a move away from McLaren, labelling such claims “nonsense” and saying there had been “a lot of fiction written” about the situation.
Verstappen offers no clarity on Red Bull future
Verstappen, contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, took a markedly different tone when questioned about his plans. Asked whether he had an update on his future, he replied: “No.” When pressed on whether he remained fully committed to Red Bull for 2027, he said: “I said there is nothing to say.”
The reigning world champion said he did not want to be drawn into public declarations about his future. “If there is something new to say, I will say it myself,” he said. Instead, he said his focus was on helping Red Bull recover from a difficult start under Formula One’s new regulations.
The Belgian Grand Prix marks a return to Spa-Francorchamps, where Piastri won last year. He was cautious about McLaren’s prospects this weekend, saying the team was likely to be the third or fourth quickest car. “Going forwards, hopefully the new parts we can bring to the car will help us out,” he said.
