Oscar Piastri stated that he never really worried about the possibility of Max Verstappen taking his place at McLaren. The Australian also reinforced his satisfaction with the British team, following the confirmation of the Dutchman’s stay at Red Bull Racing.
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Verstappen renewed his contract with Red Bull until the end of 2030, ending speculation about a possible team change. Before that, Mercedes and McLaren appeared as considered destinations for the four-time Formula 1 world champion, while Piastri and George Russell were pointed out as the drivers who could lose their seats in hypothetical scenarios.
When asked about the subject by the press, Piastri made it clear that he did not see the situation as a personal threat: “I was never really worried about it. From where I am, it really has nothing to do with me,” said the Australian.
The driver was also asked if he could stay at McLaren for another ten or fifteen years, like the long relationship Verstappen will have with Red Bull. Piastri avoided making such a distant commitment but highlighted the importance of the team in his Formula 1 career.
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“Fifteen years? I’m not sure. That’s a long time. But we’ve had good first three years together, or three and a half years,” he replied. He recalled that during this period, he achieved wins in GPs and Sprint races, as well as contested a drivers’ championship in 2025 and helped the team win two constructors’ titles, in 2024 and 2025.
Piastri also acknowledged that the relationship had difficult moments but assessed that McLaren has provided him with important opportunities since his arrival in the category: “I’m very happy where I am, and in the end, they have done a lot for me. We have a great relationship and you want to be in the best possible place to succeed. At the moment, I feel that McLaren is definitely the best place for that,” concluded the Australian driver.
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