McLaren driver Oscar Piastri has described reports of Red Bull's interest in him as a potential replacement for Max Verstappen as flattering. He confirmed he has no knowledge of any discussions on the matter.
Speaking in the Canadian Grand Prix paddock, Piastri said the news came as a surprise. He added that it reflects positively on his standing in Formula 1 but stressed his commitment to McLaren through 2027. The team is focused on winning races and championships in the coming years, he said.
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McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished second at the Japanese Grand Prix, his first race start of the 2026 Formula 1 season following crashes and mechanical issues in the opening rounds. Team principal Andrea Stella called it the 'best version' of the Australian driver seen in F1, while Piastri hailed one of his strongest weekends despite finishing behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Red Bull has identified Oscar Piastri as its preferred option to replace Max Verstappen if the four-time world champion leaves the team. Sources in the Miami paddock confirmed the plan despite Verstappen's contract for next year.
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Former Formula 1 presenter Will Buxton says Red Bull has regretted not signing Oscar Piastri as a junior driver for years. The team is now targeting the McLaren driver as a potential replacement for Max Verstappen.
Red Bull and McLaren held talks following comments by team principal Laurent Mekies about Gianpiero Lambiase's move to the papaya squad in 2028. McLaren confirmed Lambiase will serve as Chief Racing Officer reporting to Andrea Stella.
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McLaren driver Oscar Piastri explained that new Formula 1 rules require drivers to analyze non-obvious data points to optimize qualifying laps. He highlighted the challenges of managing throttle, battery, and power unit behavior differently than before. Piastri hopes upcoming tweaks for the Miami Grand Prix will ease these issues.
McLaren showed encouraging signs at the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying, with Oscar Piastri in third and Lando Norris fifth, but team principal Andrea Stella doubts a podium challenge against Ferrari. Norris faced mechanical issues limiting his practice running, leaving him playing catch-up. The session highlighted the challenges of Formula 1's new 2026 regulations.
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Jos Verstappen has revealed that he and Max were aware in advance of Gianpiero Lambiase's decision to leave Red Bull for McLaren in 2028 as chief racing officer—a move they encouraged. This follows last week's announcement of the hire.