Webber dismisses 'nonsense' rumors of Piastri McLaren exit

Mark Webber has slammed speculation that Oscar Piastri wants out of McLaren, branding rumors of a Red Bull swap as "nonsense" while Verstappen-to-McLaren chatter continues to swirl. Piastri and team boss Zak Brown have both reaffirmed the Australian's place in the lineup alongside reigning world champion Lando Norris.

Why it matters:

With Verstappen's Red Bull future looking increasingly fragile amid a poor start to the 2026 regulations, McLaren has been dragged into the rumor mill. Webber's blunt dismissal seeks to protect Piastri from distraction and confirm his standing at a team where he remains under a long-term contract.

The details:

• Webber told RACER that Piastri is tied to McLaren "for the foreseeable future" and insisted talk of him engineering an exit is "nonsense."
• Rumors flared after McLaren CEO Zak Brown met Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen before the Austrian GP, though both parties denied discussing a driver deal.
• Piastri stated during the British GP weekend that he has received "multiple reassurances" and is happy with the team, pointing to his existing multi-year contract.
• Brown maintains he has no vacancy, saying he is "very happy" with Norris and Piastri and couldn't offer Verstappen a seat even if he wanted to.
• Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, but reports claim a release clause tied to his championship position could become relevant; he currently sits seventh after struggles including recent rear wing issues.

What's next:

Unless Verstappen's rumored exit clause is triggered, McLaren's driver pairing looks settled for now. But with Red Bull failing to adapt to the new regs and Verstappen's camp actively exploring options, the driver market may remain volatile through the summer.