Oscar Piastri’s contract extension with McLaren is set to have an impact on several decisions for the 2026/27 seasons. Zak Brown has taken the old adage “never change a winning team” to heart, securing a series of key confirmations, starting with his own position at the helm of McLaren F1 (March 2024), followed by the renewals of Andrea Stella (August 2024) and Peter Prodromou (head of aerodynamics) in February.
To fully secure McLaren’s key figures for the next three years, Oscar Piastri was the final piece, and the Zak Brown – Andrea Stella duo wasted no time, bringing forward contract renewal negotiations by a year. The resulting “long-term” deal now extends his commitment until the end of 2028.
The effects of this agreement could influence other scenarios in the medium and long term. At Red Bull, they are aware that Verstappen can no longer be considered a certainty for future planning, as his choices will be influenced by the start of this season.
If his trust in the technical staff wavers, Aston Martin’s appeal could grow, putting Red Bull in a difficult position. Christian Horner has never hidden his admiration for Oscar Piastri, and within the paddock, it was widely assumed that if Verstappen were to leave, Red Bull would make a significant offer for Oscar—both in terms of contract length and a salary worthy of a top driver.
Brown sensed this possibility and wasted no time in securing his driver, extending the existing contract a year early with a significant salary increase. For Christian Horner, this could create a complicated situation, especially if Liam Lawson fails to meet Helmut Marko’s (high) expectations.
Among the drivers with the right profile for a top team, only George Russell has an expiring contract, but it seems unlikely that George would commit to a project filled with uncertainties—starting with Red Bull’s first-ever in-house engine—just as Mercedes prepares for a major technical reset that it sees as its best chance to return to the top.
Even for Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri’s renewal is a sign of stability that limits his options if his confidence in Red Bull’s future wavers. With Mercedes making it clear they are not willing to match his current Red Bull salary, Max effectively has only one alternative, without another team to leverage in negotiations. The over-the-top offers from Aston Martin, rumored by some British media earlier this year, would lose their value if Verstappen had only one serious option beyond Red Bull—something that surely hasn’t escaped Lawrence Stroll’s attention.
As the cars prepare to hit the track in Albert Park, Zak Brown already has reason to celebrate. The puzzle that worked so well in 2024 will remain intact. Contract stability will also help manage the relationship between McLaren’s two drivers if the season brings high-tension moments. Rival teams often wait for cracks to appear in the opposition, but in this case, everything is locked in. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri know they will be sharing the garage for at least three more seasons, making it in their best interest not to push their rivalry beyond a strong sporting competition.
Leave a Reply