(Motorsport-Total.com) – The ongoing speculation about a possible move of Max Verstappen to McLaren continues to be a topic of conversation ahead of the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. While Lando Norris responded calmly to related questions, Oscar Piastri’s answer was noticeably different.
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The trigger for the discussions were reports that Verstappen is said to have held talks with McLaren after the Austrian Grand Prix. McLaren CEO Zak Brown has since denied the transfer rumors, but both regular drivers of the team still had to face questions from the media.
McLaren drivers take a stand
Norris stated that a possible duel with Verstappen in the same team would not deter him. He is convinced that he can compete with any driver. Piastri, on the other hand, emphasized to media representatives, including Motorsport.com, that the speculation would not affect him.
“It doesn’t mean much to me,” says the Australian. “Obviously, Max is looking around with his talent. I am very happy with my situation. I have been told several times that McLaren is happy with me, and I trust that. I also have a contract. So nothing changes for me. I just try to continue my successful path.”
Piastri’s reaction very different
It was noticeable that Piastri’s answer indirectly gave the impression that in the event of a possible Verstappen move, he himself assumes he would be the candidate to give up his seat. Norris, on the other hand, made it clear that he would not fear internal team competition with the four-time world champion.
According to Motorsport.com, the rumors have since taken on a life of their own. Meetings between drivers, their management, and team principals are often interpreted as indications of contract negotiations, although they do not necessarily have to be concrete transfer talks.
How the Verstappen rumors originated
In Verstappen’s case, the public perception of such contacts could also be part of the negotiation strategy with his current team Red Bull. According to the report, Verstappen wants to stay in the Red Bull environment long-term but expects assurances regarding the team’s future competitiveness. Talks with other racing teams could increase pressure on the current employer.
For McLaren, on the other hand, there would initially have been no immediate disadvantage in not denying the rumors immediately. Only after parts of the media had already reported on an almost certain move did Zak Brown take a clear stance and reject the speculation.
Unrest around Piastri
According to Motorsport.com, the ongoing rumors have nevertheless caused unrest behind the scenes. In particular, Piastri’s management is said to have taken the increasing speculation critically.
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The report also points out that McLaren is said to have recently evaluated Piastri’s development somewhat more critically. After the Australian led the drivers’ standings for a long time last season, his form declined in the last races of the season. After his win in Zandvoort, only three more podiums followed until the end of the 2025 season.
Additionally, McLaren was repeatedly confronted with discussions about a possible preference for Norris last year. Although the team always emphasized treating both drivers equally, such speculation persisted stubbornly.
According to Motorsport.com, some individuals from Piastri’s environment are said to have fueled this debate at times, including by sharing a post with a statement from former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, claiming that McLaren would prioritize Norris.
Piastri still sees room for improvement
In the current season, Piastri is reportedly working specifically on his weaknesses on low-grip tracks and has also changed his environment on race weekends.
In direct qualifying comparisons, Norris and Piastri are currently tied in the 2026 Grands Prix. However, Norris has so far had the edge in the sprint qualifying sessions. In the drivers’ standings, Piastri leads by one point over his teammate, although both drivers have already lost important points due to technical problems.
Barcelona as a wake-up call for the Australian
After the Spanish Grand Prix, where Piastri finished fifth with a large gap to Norris, the Australian himself spoke of a necessary review: “It wasn’t down to one thing on tracks like Barcelona or Austria,” he explained. “It was more about the conditions and temperatures. There were things in several areas that we could have done better. Barcelona was a wake-up call for us.”
Looking ahead to the Austria weekend, Piastri adds: “There we were back at the level we should be. On such tracks, it’s about some details, like tire management. I never doubted that we are capable of that. It was just about making the right decisions and developing the car in the right direction.”
Whether the speculation about Verstappen and McLaren will actually have concrete consequences remains open. According to the current status, however, much indicates that these are mainly rumors, while Piastri himself focuses on further improving his own performance.
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