Oscar Piastri speaks out on Max Verstappen contract decision amid Red Bull driver swap talk

Max Verstappen's Formula 1 future has been resolved, with speculation about a possible move to a new team from Red Bull ultimately coming to nothing.

Verstappen has signed an extremely lucrative new deal with Red Bull that will keep him with the team until after the 2030 season, a decade and a half after he first joined.

Doubts over his future gathered momentum because of a release clause in his current contract that is reportedly tied to the team's performance at the summer break.

Nevertheless, the Dutch driver has committed to four more seasons with Red Bull and says that he was more likely to retire from the sport entirely than move to another F1 team.

The team most commonly linked with the four-time world champion was McLaren, with reports indicating that there were talks between Verstappen and the Woking outfit with a view to a long-term move.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are an established pairing for McLaren and it's understood that any interest in Verstappen would not have been at the expense of either driver in 2027, but Piastri's future beyond that appeared to be tied to Verstappen's decision.

Piastri responds to Verstappen decision amid driver swap rumours

Speaking to the media before this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, the 25-year-old reiterated his earlier statements that he didn't feel threatened by Verstappen's potential exit from Red Bull.

"I was never really worried about it," Piastri told GPblog.

"From where I'm sat, it's not really anything to do with me."

Piastri has become one of Formula 1's star attractions since he succeeded Daniel Ricciardo to take over the second McLaren seat in 2023.

He has nine GP wins to his name and regularly places in the top three. After cracking the top 10 in the drivers' championship in his debut season, Piastri finished fourth in 2024 and third in 2025.

The 2026 season so far has been more difficult. Piastri's best finish was second to Kimi Antonelli at Suzuka in March but he has been able to finish in the top five in all but two of the subsequent races he's finished.

"Obviously, we've had some challenges at various points, but you know, when you look at my career and the position I've been able to be in, to win two constructors' championships, fight for a drivers' championship, and win races or sprints in the first three years of my career, McLaren's given me incredible opportunities already," added the Australian.

"I'm very happy with where I am... We've got a great relationship, and ultimately, you want to be in the best place you can for success.

"At the moment, I feel like McLaren is definitely the best place for that."

Verstappen and Piastri will line up against one another in this weekend's Dutch GP at Zandvoort, where Verstappen has won three of the five Grands Prix since the circuit returned to the calendar.

2026 will be the last year of six contracted races in the Netherlands, with Zandvoort set to drop back off the schedule in 2027.