Piastri unfazed by 'Verstappen to McLaren' rumours: 'It doesn't mean much'
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated: 19:21, 02 Jul
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Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Oscar Piastri has responded to rumours surrounding McLaren's potential move for Red Bull's Max Verstappen, arguing the papaya team's links with the four time world champion "don't mean much."
After the Austrian GP, where Verstappen secured his best finish of the season in P2, Sky Sports reported that the Dutchman's camp had held a meeting with McLaren, with the British outlet adding that discussions had been initiated by Verstappen's team.
Over recent months, speculation over a potential swap between McLaren and Red Bull for Piastri and Verstappen has intensified, with GPblog previously reporting that the Aussie is seen as the most logical option to replace Verstappen at Milton Keynes.
During Thursday's drivers' press conference, Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris said it is a "cool thing" for Verstappen, and other drivers, to possibly be interested in a move to the reigning world champions, and that he would "look forward" to the opportunity of facing a new teammate.
Norris told media, including GPblog: "To be honest, a lot of drivers want to come to McLaren, so I don't know why you just highlight Max. There's quite a few others that I know that want to come as well. It's a cool thing.
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"It's a good thing that a four-time world champion wants to come on board and wants to potentially join the team. I don't know how much of it's true, but it's a cool thing. If there's an opportunity for me to drive with other people, it's something I've always looked forward to, but it's not a thing for now. It's not a serious thing."
Later on, Verstappen was asked by GPblog on the McLaren rumours and Norris' comments. He replied: "I'm not going to involve myself in that. I've said what I've wanted to say already before. If there is something new, or something that changes you will hear it from me and not from someone else...
"I just focus on the job I have with my team, we are on the way up and that is nice to see. I had a really positive weekend in Austria, we're just trying to improve from there further... there's a lot of competition, but we're here just to try and go faster."
Piastri: Verstappen to McLaren 'doesn't mean much'
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Photo: Race Pictures
Now, Piastri has had his say, with the 25-year-old not appearing to be too troubled with the noise around a potential Verstappen move to McLaren. The Aussie reiterated he is happy at McLaren, and that feeling is reciprocated by the British team.
Piastri, who is also on a multi-year contract with the team alongside world champion Norris, said: "For me, I mean, it doesn't mean much. Obviously, Max is the talent he is, and looking around.
"I'm very happy with where I am. I've been told multiple times that the team are happy with me, and I trust them. So, for me, it doesn't really mean much."
"Obviously, a contract in place as well. So, yeah, for me, it doesn't change anything. I'm just trying to build on the success that I've had."
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