Mark Webber has vehemently dismissed speculation that Oscar Piastri might leave McLaren, labeling such reports as "nonsense" and "fiction." These statements come as rumors surrounding Max Verstappen's potential future moves continue to circulate.
Recent reports suggested that Verstappen's management had engaged in preliminary discussions regarding a future transfer. Concurrently, separate claims alleged that Piastri could trigger a contractual performance clause if he dropped outside the top five in the drivers' championship before the mid-season break.
However, Piastri's management has refuted suggestions that the Australian driver has "signalled his desire" to depart McLaren. Webber, who manages Piastri, affirmed that the driver is committed to his current team. "Oscar is contracted to McLaren for the foreseeable future," Webber told RACER. "Talk of him agitating to leave is nonsense."
He added, "There has been a lot of fiction written about him and other teams. McLaren have repeatedly said they want him for the long term and Oscar is focused on that."
These comments followed a challenging British Grand Prix weekend for Piastri, who finished seventh in the sprint race and 11th in the grand prix after an opening-lap collision. This result saw him fall to sixth in the championship standings, which fueled speculation about the aforementioned contract clause. Piastri himself has maintained his satisfaction with McLaren, stating, "I've got a contract in place, multiple reassurances that the team are very happy with me and I'm very happy with the team."
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has also publicly supported his driver lineup of Piastri and Lando Norris. "They're rumours," Brown stated regarding the speculation. "I'm very happy with my two racing drivers, Lando and Oscar. I think anytime a name like Max is thrown around, people get pretty excited – a four-time World Champion – but [I'm] very happy with our driver line-up."
The latest wave of rumors gained traction after Brown was observed meeting with Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, during the British Grand Prix weekend. Both parties later clarified that no negotiations had occurred, but the sighting reignited discussions about a potential major driver shuffle.
The speculation arises as Red Bull navigates a difficult season, marked by the departures of team principal Christian Horner and designer Adrian Newey. New boss Laurent Mekies has acknowledged Verstappen's frustration with the team's performance, though he expressed confidence in the driver's desire to stay. Reports suggest Verstappen has not committed beyond 2026, with possibilities of a sabbatical or retirement previously mentioned.
Analysts have raised questions about the sense of a move to Red Bull for Piastri, citing McLaren's long-term stability, equal treatment of drivers, and confidence in their return to championship contention. This is contrasted with Red Bull's internal changes and McLaren's consistent policy of not favoring one driver over another, unlike Verstappen's status at Red Bull throughout his career.
Webber, who previously facilitated Piastri's move from Alpine to McLaren, has remained firm in his stance amidst the ongoing speculation.