Piastri associated with Red Bull amid speculation about Verstappen.

      "Piastri felt he was treated unfairly"

      Fresh speculation regarding a dramatic shift in the driver market is circulating in Formula 1, with reports suggesting a connection between Oscar Piastri and Red Bull Racing, as well as Max Verstappen possibly moving to McLaren. According to Auto Motor und Sport from Germany, as Verstappen prepares for his 24-hour GT3 event at the Nurburgring, discussions about his future are resurfacing, even though he has a contract that extends until 2028.

      The rumors have been brewing since the Christian Horner incident at the start of 2024. The subsequent exits of Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, along with the surprising news of Gianpiero Lambiase’s intended transfer to McLaren, have further raised concerns about Red Bull's long-term stability with Verstappen in mind. Journalist Joel Lischka reports that there is a performance clause in Verstappen’s contract that could allow him to depart if he is not ranked at least second in the championship by July 1.

      While Mercedes had long been considered the most probable destination for Verstappen, McLaren is now being seen as a viable option, with insiders indicating that discussions have already commenced. "After just missing out on the 2025 title and the questionable decisions made by the team during his rivalry with Lando Norris, Piastri felt he was treated unfairly," wrote Lischka.

      He also mentioned that Piastri’s manager, former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, has maintained strong ties within Red Bull, and team principal Laurent Mekies is said to envision Piastri as a potential successor to Verstappen. However, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher advised caution about excessive enthusiasm for Piastri. "Norris, on a challenging and slippery track, effectively sidelined Piastri, which needs to be acknowledged," Schumacher remarked after the Miami event. "The entire weekend."