Zak Brown Dismisses Piastri-Verstappen Swap Rumors

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has dismissed rumors that the team would swap Oscar Piastri for Max Verstappen, despite former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya claiming such a move “makes sense.” The speculation was fueled by the announcement that Verstappen's long-time race engineer, GianPiero Lambiase, will join McLaren by 2028—coinciding with the final year of Verstappen's Red Bull contract.

Why it matters:

McLaren's driver lineup has been a cornerstone of their resurgence. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri fought for the 2025 title with remarkable cooperation, sharing data and avoiding infighting. Disrupting that balance for Verstappen—even a driver of his caliber—carries risk. Brown's stance reinforces that team chemistry and long-term stability take priority over short-term talent grabs.

The details:

• Montoya suggested that Piastri's manager Mark Webber is unhappy with Piastri's situation at McLaren, adding: “A straight swap makes some sense. Webber raced for Red Bull before. He knows Red Bull.”
• Brown responded emphatically: “I couldn’t be happier with our driver line-up. Lando and Oscar are not only two great guys on and off the track, but also shine as teammates. That has made McLaren so successful.”
• He added: “I have no intention of changing anything about it.”
• However, Brown left the door slightly ajar: “He’s a great racing driver. If there was a chance with him, it would be a completely different discussion, considering the talent he has.”

What's next:

For now, McLaren's 2027 lineup appears locked with Norris and Piastri. But with Verstappen's contract expiring after 2028 and Lambiase's move to Woking, speculation will persist. Any future shift would require major changes in Red Bull's competitiveness or McLaren's willingness to pay Verstappen's salary—a figure that would dwarf their current driver costs. Brown's cautious openness hints that while no swap is imminent, the F1 driver market can shift quickly.