Piastri calls Red Bull interest flattering but insists he is happy at McLaren

Oscar Piastri has described Red Bull’s reported interest in him as a long-term replacement for Max Verstappen as “flattering”, but the McLaren driver told reporters at the Canadian Grand Prix paddock that he had no knowledge of any approach.

Reports emerged during the Miami Grand Prix weekend that Red Bull had identified Piastri as a contingency option should Verstappen leave the team — whether by joining a rival outfit, taking a sabbatical, or walking away from Formula 1 entirely. Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed the Australian was on the team’s radar.

“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.”

Piastri, who is contracted to McLaren through 2027, added that he retains strong belief in the Woking-based team’s ability to compete for championships. “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.”

Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, though his deal contains several performance-related break clauses. The four-time world champion has publicly expressed frustration with Formula 1’s new regulations and acknowledged he had “life decisions” to make following a difficult start to the 2026 rules cycle.

Speaking on the same day in Canada, Verstappen offered a more measured outlook on his future, pointing to proposed 2027 power unit changes — a suggested 60-40 split between combustion and electric energy — as a potential positive. “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,” he said. “I always wanted to continue anyway, but I always wanted to see change.”

For now, Piastri’s position appears straightforward: flattered by the attention, but not looking for the exit.