McLaren and Red Bull hold talks over Verstappen and Piastri swap deal
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen could leave Red Bull to join McLaren in 2027 as part of a sensational swap deal involving Oscar Piastri.
Preliminary negotiations have reportedly begun between the British outfit and the Dutch driver’s representatives.
The proposed move would see the 23-year-old Australian head in the opposite direction to take up a seat with the Milton Keynes-based team.
While Verstappen’s current £80m-a-year contract runs until the end of the 2028 season, it is understood to contain exit clauses.
These stipulations could allow an early departure if specific performance or structural conditions are not met.
Red Bull restructuring prompts exit rumours
The Austrian-owned team have endured a turbulent period following several high-profile paddock departures.
Long-standing team principal Christian Horner left mid-season and was replaced by Laurent Mekies.
Red Bull also lost influential motorsport adviser Dr Helmut Marko and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who has already defected to McLaren.
This internal upheaval coincided with a narrow championship defeat, missing out on the constructors’ title to McLaren and Lando Norris by a mere two points.
Engine concerns and future regulations
Further unrest has been fuelled by the impending 2026 regulation changes.
The new rules place a greater emphasis on the hybrid power unit’s electrical systems, a direction that has frustrated the 71-time race winner.
Red Bull are currently developing their own power trains in-house after former partner Honda announced their withdrawal from the sport.
The Dutchman has openly questioned his long-term future in Formula 1 due to these technical shifts.
He has frequently hinted at an early retirement if the series no longer aligns with his racing preferences.
Ending a decade-long partnership
A departure would sever a 12-year affiliation with the energy drink company’s racing programme.
The former Toro Rosso prodigy famously won on his senior debut in Spain at just 18 years old following a collision between Mercedes team-mates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.
He has since established himself as one of the sport’s all-time greats, securing four drivers’ championships.
A switch to Woking would mark the first team change of his senior career and drastically reshape the grid hierarchy.
