If Oscar Piastri fears Max Verstappen is coming for his McLaren seat, he hid it well at Spa.
During Thursday media day before the Belgian Grand Prix, Piastri said he fully expects to remain with the team in 2027. Senior management has already made its position clear to him during private talks.
The timing matters. Verstappen has been linked with McLaren as Red Bull struggles to produce a consistent front-running car under the 2026 regulations. McLaren has problems of its own. After winning both championships in 2025, the team entered Spa with what Piastri described as the 3rd or 4th quickest package.
That sharp change in the competitive order has pushed the rumour beyond ordinary paddock gossip. Piastri is not feeding it. His contract keeps him at McLaren through 2027, while the team remains publicly committed to its current lineup.
The pressure now sits on McLaren to make its car as convincing as its words.
Why McLaren Became The Obvious Target
Verstappen remains contracted to Red Bull through 2028, but the team has struggled to master the new regulations. Its car has lacked consistent pace, while reliability concerns and rear wing problems have added to the frustration.
Those setbacks have made his future a constant paddock talking point. Any uncertainty surrounding a four-time world champion will attract attention, especially when a rival team has recently proved it can build a title-winning car.
McLaren did exactly that in 2025. Norris captured the Drivers’ Championship, while Piastri finished 3rd after winning 7 races and remaining in the title fight until the closing stages.
Then the competitive picture changed.
The 2026 car has struggled for rear grip and has not responded as well as rival machinery to the new technical demands. At Silverstone, team principal Andrea Stella described McLaren as only the 4th fastest package. Piastri offered a similar assessment before Spa.
The team plans to introduce a significant upgrade at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the race immediately after Belgium. That package could address some of the car’s weaknesses, but McLaren does not expect one update to solve every problem.
Its drop in performance explains why Verstappen has been connected with the team. He needs machinery capable of putting him back in the championship fight. McLaren has recent proof that it can produce such a car, even if the current version has fallen short.
Still, paddock contact does not equal a completed transfer. Driver managers regularly visit rival motorhomes, speak with team executives and study every possible opening. A quiet coffee can be routine market research rather than the first step toward signing a contract.
Piastri Refuses To Let Rumours Control His Future
Piastri addressed the speculation directly during Thursday media day at Spa. He did not hide behind a prepared statement or avoid the question.
Instead, he explained that the people running McLaren had communicated their belief in him. That message carries more weight inside his camp than conversations happening elsewhere in the paddock.
“I trust in what Zak and Andrea have said to me and the belief in me as well.”
Piastri is relying on those conversations rather than allowing outside noise to shape his mindset.
His manager, Mark Webber, has also dismissed claims that the driver is looking for a way out. That position matters because Piastri has done nothing publicly to encourage speculation about a move.
The team’s support is based on results, not just potential.
Piastri won the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix in changing conditions, keeping Norris behind him during a tense race at Spa. The victory strengthened his championship challenge and showed that he could handle pressure against a teammate in identical machinery. He claimed 6 more wins during the season, shedding the promising rookie tag and establishing himself as a genuine championship contender.
From a competitive standpoint, tearing apart this lineup makes little sense for McLaren right now. Norris is the reigning world champion. Piastri has already shown that he can challenge him across a full campaign.
Both drivers understand the engineers, systems and internal culture. Together, they have delivered McLaren’s strongest period in decades.
Even bringing in a generational talent like Verstappen could damage the chemistry that took years to build. His speed would never be questioned. Finding room for him would create a far more difficult decision.
Lap Times Will Decide What Happens Next
Piastri’s confidence does not make the story disappear. Contracts carry weight in Formula 1, but performance controls the driver market.
Belgium offers McLaren a chance to measure its current level before the Hungary upgrade arrives. The following weekend will provide the first real indication of whether the new parts can move the car closer to the front.
Red Bull faces an equally important task. It must convince Verstappen that its 2026 problems can be solved and that remaining with the team still offers the clearest route to another championship.
Spa also gives Piastri an immediate opportunity to reset after a costly British Grand Prix. Contact on lap 1 damaged his front wing, forced an early stop and left him outside the points.
Returning to the circuit where he won in 2025 offers a cleaner response to the speculation. He can focus on lap time, tyre management and helping McLaren recover lost ground.
Strong results would settle much of the noise. A faster Red Bull would strengthen its hold on Verstappen. A successful McLaren upgrade would reinforce Piastri’s belief that his future remains secure.
Continued struggles would keep every motorhome conversation under scrutiny.
Piastri has made his position clear. He expects to drive for McLaren in 2027.
The next answer will come from the stopwatch. McLaren must prove that its decline is temporary and give its established lineup a car capable of returning to the front.
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FAQs
Is Oscar Piastri leaving McLaren?
Piastri says he expects to race for McLaren in 2027. His contract and the team’s public position support that expectation.
Could Max Verstappen replace Piastri at McLaren?
Reports have linked Verstappen with McLaren, but neither side has confirmed a deal. McLaren currently has Piastri and Norris under contract.
How long is Oscar Piastri’s McLaren contract?
Piastri’s deal keeps him with McLaren through at least the end of 2027.
When will McLaren introduce its next major upgrade?
McLaren plans to bring significant new parts to the Hungarian Grand Prix, immediately after the race weekend in Belgium.
How many races did Piastri win in 2025?
Piastri won 7 Grands Prix in 2025. He finished 3rd in the championship after challenging for the title.
