(Motorsport-Total.com) – Oscar Piastri described reports of possible interest from Red Bull in him as “flattering,” but at the same time emphasized that he is not aware of any concrete talks.
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The McLaren driver is currently considered one of the most sought-after drivers in the Formula 1 paddock. According to Motorsport.com, Piastri is on Red Bull’s list as a possible long-term successor to Max Verstappen. The background is ongoing speculation about the future of the four-time world champion, who has recently been linked with other teams multiple times. In addition, Verstappen is said to have expressed reservations about the planned engine regulations from 2026.
On the sidelines of the Canadian Grand Prix, Piastri was asked about the corresponding reports. However, the Australian stated that he was not aware of any concrete interest.
Piastri sees no reason to consider a change
“This is news to me. There have been no talks or anything like that, as far as I know. Of course, it is always nice to be associated with such things. Hopefully, that shows that I have done a good job so far. But I am very happy where I am. I am focusing on winning races and hopefully championships in the future with McLaren. That is where I want to stay.”
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Piastri is still under contract with McLaren until the end of 2027. Verstappen, in turn, has a contract until the end of 2028, which reportedly includes various performance-related clauses.
Verstappen expresses concerns about the rules from 2027
On Thursday, Verstappen also spoke critically about the engine regulations discussed for 2027. The plans foresee a ratio of about 60 to 40 between combustion and electric drive. According to the Dutchman, this could affect the attractiveness of Formula 1.
“That will change the product characteristics. If that happens, then the question is whether I even want to continue in Formula 1,” says Verstappen. At the same time, he made it clear that he currently feels comfortable at Red Bull: “I am happy where I am. The team is making great progress. It is exciting to see. For me, it was always clear that I wanted to continue, but I always wanted to race in a competitive environment.”
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