Piastri: Verstappen's Red Bull extension changes little for my McLaren future

Oscar Piastri says Max Verstappen’s Red Bull contract extension changes little for his own McLaren future, but he’s not naive enough to think the driver market is now settled. The Australian, speaking at Monza, explained that while long-term deals signal commitment, they rarely remove all uncertainty.

Why it matters:

With Verstappen now committed to Red Bull through 2030 and Lando Norris locked in at McLaren on a similar timeline, the sport’s top seats appear stable. But Piastri’s comments serve as a reminder that modern F1 contracts are built with flexibility — for both teams and drivers. That means the speculation surrounding the grid’s biggest names is unlikely to disappear.

The details:

• Red Bull announced Verstappen’s extension ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, adding two years to his existing deal.
• Norris followed with his own long-term McLaren renewal, keeping him alongside Piastri for the foreseeable future.
• Piastri says the stability is good for drivers, but he’d be “amazed” if any major contract lacked wiggle room.
• On his own situation: Piastri confirmed his current McLaren deal still has time to run, so there’s no rush to open talks.
• On Norris: He called the extension unsurprising, given Norris just won the drivers’ title and McLaren claimed back-to-back constructors’ championships.

What's next:

Piastri remains confident McLaren can bounce back after a tougher season, saying the team has “the right pieces of the puzzle” to fight for wins again. As for the driver market, the long-term paper commitments may not be the final word — exit clauses could still reshape the grid before 2030.