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F1
Rumors of Max Verstappen Swapping With Oscar Piastri Are Getting Stronger as F1 Insider Backs Claims
TL;DR
Max Verstappen, currently seventh in the standings, may leave Red Bull before 2028 due to a contract clause. His poor performance has intensified rumors of a potential swap with Oscar Piastri.
Key points
- Max Verstappen is seventh in the standings with 26 points.
- He trails championship leaders Kimi Antonelli and George Russell by 54 points.
- Verstappen's contract allows him to leave before 2028 under certain conditions.
- The RB22 car's performance has been poor this season.
Mentioned in this story
Max VerstappenKimi AntonelliGeorge RussellRed Bull
Four world championships and a contract through 2028, and Max Verstappen is currently sitting seventh in the standings with 26 points.
Without a podium to his name in 2026, he trails championship leaders Kimi Antonelli and George Russell by 54 points. The RB22 has been that bad.
Buried in that Red Bull contract is a clause understood to allow Verstappen to walk before 2028 if he isnāt inside the top two of the championship by the summer break.
Given where he sits right now, that exit door is very much ajar ā and the paddock has noticed.
The Talks That Werenāt Supposed to Be Public Yet
Veteran journalist Joe Saward has gone on record in his newsletter claiming that Verstappen and McLaren have already begun talks about a potential move.
Thatās a significant step beyond the usual vague āmonitoring the situationā language that circulates in the paddock.
Verstappen is reportedly the highest-paid driver on the grid at around $70 million per year, which gives you a sense of the scale of the conversation McLaren CEO Zak Brown would need to be having. For his part, Brown has been careful in public.
He told Sky Sports F1 he ācouldnāt be happierā with his current driver lineup and had āzero intention in changing.ā
He did leave one window open, though: āif a gap opened up, thatās a different conversation.ā
The driver who would make way in that scenario is Oscar Piastri ā and the story gets more complicated from here.
Per , Red Bull has identified Piastri as its preferred replacement for Verstappen.
Q&A
What is the contract clause that allows Max Verstappen to leave Red Bull?
Verstappen's contract includes a clause that permits him to exit before 2028 if he is not in the top two of the championship by the summer break.
How many points does Max Verstappen have in the current standings?
Max Verstappen currently has 26 points and is sitting seventh in the standings.
Who are the championship leaders that Verstappen is trailing?
Verstappen is trailing championship leaders Kimi Antonelli and George Russell by 54 points.
What has contributed to Verstappen's poor performance in 2026?
The performance of the RB22 car has been significantly underwhelming, contributing to Verstappen's lack of podium finishes.