Mark Webber has dismissed claims that Oscar Piastri is angling for a move away from McLaren, amid intense speculation linking Max Verstappen to the Woking-based team. The former Red Bull driver, who manages Piastri, told RACER: 'Oscar is contracted to McLaren for the foreseeable future and talk of him agitating to leave is nonsense. There has been a lot of fiction written about him. McLaren have repeatedly said they want him for the long term and Oscar is focused on that.'
Verstappen-McLaren Talks Fuel Speculation
Verstappen's future is the dominant story in Formula 1, with reports indicating his camp has held discussions with McLaren about a potential switch for the 2027 season. The Dutchman's Red Bull contract includes clauses allowing him to leave if specific performance targets are not met annually. His crash at Silverstone last Sunday means he cannot mathematically reach second place in the drivers' championship by the summer break, potentially triggering a blockbuster move.
With George Russell secured at Mercedes for 2027 and Lewis Hamilton exercising his extension option at Ferrari, McLaren emerges as the only top team with a possible vacancy. However, McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated at Silverstone: 'Any time a name like Max is thrown around everyone gets pretty excited – a four-time world champion – but I'm very happy with our driver line-up.'
Brown Acknowledges Contact with Verstappen's Manager
Brown confirmed to reporters that it was 'correct' to say a McLaren swoop for Verstappen will not happen imminently, though he admitted contact with Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen. Asked what McLaren could offer Verstappen that Red Bull cannot, Brown replied: 'I haven't really thought about that, because I've got two drivers in the seats. What I couldn't offer him was a seat in my race car, so [talks] didn't go anywhere. I've got my two drivers, so there's nothing to report.'
Tensions Between Verstappen and Red Bull Leadership
The relationship between Verstappen's camp and Red Bull's Austria-based leadership remains strained, with accusations of disloyalty reportedly exchanged. Adding to the intrigue, long-serving Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who left at the end of last season, was spotted in Amsterdam on Thursday in deep conversation with Vermeulen and Jos Verstappen. While the topic is unconfirmed, it is widely assumed that Verstappen's future was discussed.
Whether McLaren will be tempted to alter its driver lineup remains uncertain. For now, both Brown and Webber have publicly reaffirmed Piastri's commitment to the team, casting doubt on any imminent Verstappen move.
