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The Athletic·July 16, 2026
Oscar Piastri brushes off recent Max Verstappen McLaren links: ‘I'm very comfortable'
Piastri stays put
Piastri’s comments calm one source of uncertainty in the paddock. Even so, the driver market remains active because Verstappen’s long-term position at Red Bull continues to be discussed as teams assess future lineups.
Team stability
This matters because title-contending teams rarely treat driver contracts as isolated issues. Stability can matter as much as raw pace, especially when a team is trying to sustain a championship push across multiple seasons.
Next questions
Any future move involving Verstappen would affect competitive balance far beyond a single season. For now, the more immediate storyline is whether McLaren can keep both the title fight and its lineup settled.
