Oscar Piastri was reportedly an unwilling pawn in Max Verstappen’s negotiations with Red Bull, as speculation over a potential move to McLaren helped fuel months of uncertainty around the four-time world champion’s future.
Red Bull finally ended the saga on Thursday, announcing that Verstappen had signed a new contract keeping him with the team until the end of 2030.
For months, rumours had suggested Verstappen could leave Red Bull for McLaren, with some reports even claiming he was targeting Piastri’s seat. McLaren and Piastri’s camp repeatedly denied the speculation, while Piastri remains contracted to the team through the end of 2028.
The rumours intensified as Verstappen grew increasingly frustrated with Red Bull’s struggles under the 2026 regulations. The Dutchman had been openly critical of the new power-unit rules, while Red Bull’s lack of competitiveness compared with previous seasons raised further questions about whether he would remain with the team.
However, ahead of his home Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen revealed that leaving Red Bull was not necessarily his preferred option.
“I was closer to retiring than changing teams,” Verstappen said, explaining that after the opening races of the season, he had even told Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies not to ask him about his future because he was unsure whether he wanted to continue racing.
His comments suggest the Piastri-to-McLaren rumours may have been used as leverage during negotiations, rather than representing a genuine plan to replace the Australian.
Verstappen’s new deal is reportedly worth around US$75 million per season, excluding endorsements, and also provides him with greater freedom to compete in other forms of motorsport.
With his future now settled, attention can shift back to Piastri, who remains firmly tied to McLaren until 2028 and appears to have been caught up in a contract saga that was never really about him.
