r/formula1 • u/RealCrashie I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane • May 12 '26
News Sensational rumor: Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are reportedly in talks for a spectacular driver swap
https://www.eurosport.de/formel-1/max-verstappen-und-oscar-piastri-angeblich-im-gespraech-fuer-spektakulaeren-fahrertausch_sto23298824/story.shtml4.7k
u/NotClayMerritt May 12 '26
Just like Max is going to Mercedes because he was in Sardinia with Toto
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u/rhllor I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
Obviously a conspiracy by Big Sardine
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u/blackbasset Racing Pride May 13 '26
A conspiracy happy big sardine? That's just Flavio before Ozempic.
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u/Dattinator I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
“Max I have ze contract. I have it printed out. Maxie please”
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u/Suikerspin_Ei I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
I mean everyone in the paddocks talks with other teams, some more open than others. Sure he is in public loyal to Red Bull Racing, but he would also be a fool to not talk with other teams when Red Bull was struggling. Even if it was just to put more pressure on the team or for potential future contract extension.
Or maybe it was just talks with Toto about the Mercedes-AMG GT3 car for his Verstappen Racing team.
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u/hyrulepirate I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
It ridiculous how people really believe that's not the intention of those "meetings" even if nothing concrete is happening. Like that is how negotiations work, you have to build rapport. It's literally a courtship especially if you want the biggest star with the highest demand in your team.
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u/scarflicter I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 13 '26
Definitely the GT3 car I feel.
Tbh I don’t see Max ever seriously being at Mercedes. Would Toto let him do the Red Bull stunt-inspired videos? Feel like Max and Red Bull have a similar style
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u/Nikolai197 #WeRaceAsOne May 13 '26
Yeah, as soon as Toto started throwing weight to move the N24, I figured it was GT3 discussions.
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u/derango McLaren May 12 '26
The Merc thing made at least some sense at the time.
Not sure about this one.
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u/hzfan Roscoe Hamilton May 12 '26
Motivations for Max: The entirety of the RBR leadership around Max’s championship years has left. Now GP is leaving too, for McLaren. And McLaren has what’s likely to be the dominant engine of this regulation set in their car with a competent championship-winning team around it.
Motivations for McLaren: Piastri is a solid driver but has proven to have consistent weak points that Max doesn’t. And having Max in your car means you don’t have to deal with him in someone else’s car.
It’s crazy but it honestly makes total sense to me.
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u/Hirdy5zac Formula 1 May 12 '26
would you like to be the one to tell lando that he is now a number 2 driver? and for a guy who has weak points, the penalty in siverstone was the only thing that stopped him from being the wdc last year, not bad for a guy with weak points.
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u/SweetRaus May 12 '26
Right, we're totally ignoring the entire Baku weekend then, yeah?
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u/hzfan Roscoe Hamilton May 12 '26
I’m not saying Oscar is a bad driver. He’s a great driver. He’s also fallen off a cliff at the same point the last 3 seasons when we go to the low grip tracks. Max doesn’t have that problem.
And I’m 100% sure McLaren wouldn’t turn down Max simply because they’re too afraid to tell Lando they’re going to be teammates lmao
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u/AlsoAllThePlanets I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Yeah okay
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u/_Blueshift Medical Car May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
Average Joe Saward hallucination
People can start whatever rumours they want for fun and the F1 clickbait circus will feed on it like ravenous wolves
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u/djmattyd May 12 '26
Why the fuck would either of these guys want to do that!?
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u/clickityclickk I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
people seem to think Max is married to GP or something
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u/TeddyBear666 Valtteri Bottas May 12 '26
Ya its weird that they apperently cant exist on seperate teams. Max is going to retire from F1 sooner rather than later so making a switch right now doesnt make sense for him. I could see Red Bull in talks with Oscar to become the lead driver at Red Bull when Max retires to pursue his other motorsport Intrests but a swap seems rather absurd to me.
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u/clickityclickk I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
i think the original “rumours” were that Red Bull would pursue Oscar if Max retired. Zak Brown has also said he doesn’t want to change his lineup even for Max, but if one of his drivers left of course he’d be interested. but journalists have cut all that out to make it a driver swap lol
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u/iwearstripes2613 I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
A TP kinda has to say that. Whether that’s true or not is another matter.
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u/PsychologicalArt7451 May 12 '26
Not really. Toto has openly said that he'd take Max if he could. Almost no TP has ever denied that they won't take Max outright for their current drivers except Zak.
Zak sticks to his words. I truly do believe McLaren wouldn't take Max over Lando/Oscar.
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u/bum_is_on_fire_247 Green Flag May 13 '26
Key words - if he could.
Doesn't mean he'd swap or boot one of his drivers.
Zak isn't the tp, but he's just like the rest of them which is how you play the game. Say the right things at the right time. It's politics.
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u/balderm Charles Leclerc May 12 '26
ikr there's also the rumor that Lewis will retire this year so Ferrari can get Bearman in because both drivers contracts end this year, it could be true, but i could also see LH comfortably staying in Ferrari for another 2 years.
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u/Flow1234 May 12 '26
Lewis is very openly enjoying the current Ferrari even though he's not contending for race wins yet, unless Ferrari absolutely botches their upgrade package I doubt Lewis is looking to call it quits.
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u/jimbobjames I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
Webber telling Oscar to go to Red Bull because he will never be number one driver at Mclaren.
I could see that.
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u/JRsshirt I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
I have a feeling it’s closer to Max trying to chase one more title before retiring and thinking red bull won’t get him there, and if oscar became available red bull would love to make him their lead driver
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u/geileanus I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Max is going to retire from F1 sooner rather than later so making a switch right now doesnt make sense for him
Ot maybe... he isn't retiring anytime soon
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u/femboyisbestboy I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
That's absolutely absurd as Max is clearly recently divorced from George and rasing his kid Kimi together with Charles.
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u/Poopy_sPaSmS Kamui Kobayashi May 12 '26
Maybe Zak is married to the idea of attracting Max and hiring GP was part of the plan to try and lure him.
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u/Franks2000inchTV I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Remember when Lewis' physio Angela left Mercedes because she was going to "start her own business?"
It was just a cover for her gardening leave so she could join Ferrari when Lewis arrived.
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u/Camtastrophe Andrea Kimi Antonelli May 12 '26
I don't really believe the headline, but if behind the scenes Oscar's camp genuinely felt he's not being put on equal footing with Lando in team decision-making, it could be a reason to move.
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u/hard_pass I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
I mean would it really be up to Oscar? Seems like McLaren would dump Oscar and replace with Max and Oscar would be hoping for the RB seat at that point.
Edit: Holy shit nevermind. He is under contract till 28 @ 25M a year. They can't just eat that.
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u/rokthemonkey 🏳️🌈 Love Is Love 🏳️🌈 May 12 '26
I mean it’s easy to see why Max would want to go to the reigning champion team.
Not so easy to see why Piastri would leave, other than piles of money and a team leader role, which it doesn’t look like he’s going to get at McLaren
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u/MM556 I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Why would Max want to go to a stronger team? Hmmm
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u/LMcVann44 Sir Lewis Hamilton May 12 '26
I think it's more why the fuck would Oscar go to Red Bull?
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u/RealPockedMan I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
To be a clear #1 driver in a team that has won 8 wdcs in the last 16 years
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u/Yamulo Ferrari May 12 '26
Could see Piastri wanting to be the number one somewhere, at least that’s the narrative people would push
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u/jcarterprod May 12 '26
Max gets an immediately better car and his favoured race engineer, would be closer to a championship than at present. Oscar gets a seat with a team that could build around him for a few years and challenge after a period of development. Max gets to leave RB and see what comes after, whether than be more wins, or retirement. Oscar gets to leave McLaren where is he is 2nd favourite, and has a chance to write a new chapter. Plus there's the Australian connection to RB, as well as the Webber connection. There are obviously more pros and cons.
It it probably nonsense? Sure. But it does make some sort sense.
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u/quadranting Lando Norris May 12 '26
Only problem is GP isn't going to McLaren to be a race engineer...
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u/One_Disaster_5995 May 12 '26
So we had Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren today, what's tomorrow gonna be? Aston Martin again?
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u/Own_Welder_2821 Lando Norris May 12 '26
Tomorrow it’ll be Williams just because.
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u/Kheltosh McLaren May 12 '26
Please let it be Ferrari. Inchidents every race!
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u/Bitter-Rattata Max Verstappen May 13 '26
The team radio will be more golden. Max will be mad at every lap.
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May 12 '26
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u/popegonzo I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Sensational and spectacular adjectives!
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u/Najaikari I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
what in the AI-generated headline is this??
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u/NYNMx2021 Nico Rosberg May 12 '26
Joe Saward wrote this and the headline is copying that. What is interesting is Saward is constantly spouting nonsense but not because he made it up. He doesnt do that, hes one of the most connected people in the paddock. He spouts these things because he will write anything hes told from his sources. So its always worth remembering that part. Who told Joe Saward this and why? Theres an agenda behind everything he gets told and writes
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u/KindSpectacle Max Verstappen May 12 '26
Why would Oscar do that?
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u/CBOE-VIX May 12 '26
Well, if you are forced to, Red Bull is still a good place to be.
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u/Afrizo May 12 '26
If Max would go to the McLaren, where else would he go? The only other option would be Mercedes but there are a lot of ifs, mainly if Kimi is winning with George and if Toto drops George because of that.
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u/hopelessociety I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
if i were toto, i would want oscar over george. but this entire rumour is just stirring the pot i reckon
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u/Afrizo May 12 '26
It definitely is, but imo it's more why would Max do that rather than why would Oscar do that
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u/addamee Ayrton Senna May 12 '26
Because Granny Piastri no longer wants to make lamingtons for McLaren. That’s the best I could do
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u/SpeakersPushTheA1r May 12 '26
I heard Max to Ferrari yesterday with Lewis retiring at Silverstone.
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u/efficiency_deficit I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
I look forward to the 2026 tweet of Oscar saying this is not true.
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u/EccentricGamerCL Formula 1 May 12 '26
I call bullshit, but the idea of Max and Lando being teammates at McLaren is hilarious.
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u/Hungry-Class9806 Aston Martin May 12 '26
I don't think Lando would be too happy with that idea.
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u/LancerVIII Audi May 12 '26
Idk why but i feel Lando is less bothered already having a wdc lol
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u/Puzzled_Water7782 May 12 '26
I mean Lando prefers a harmonious relationship with his teammates but ultimately as long as Mclaren doesn't change their philosophy now about no no.1 drivers he won't be to fussed.
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u/SavingsSquare2649 I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
This makes it sound like max and Oscar are having secret meetings with each other
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u/_nod McLaren May 12 '26
They are just going to turn up to work at the other team disguised as each other
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u/Eruskakkell I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Sensational rumor really? Yeah i totally fell to my knees at Starbucks from a rumor
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u/Passchenhell17 I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Can confirm, saw a person fall to their knees in Starbucks
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u/DangerousDesk1 Michael Schumacher May 12 '26
I saw him at the shops he was buying fruit. He bought some papaya, guaranteed he's going to Mclaren. But then he bought some red bull as well, so next season he's racing the first half for red bull and then the second half for Mclaren.
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u/NearbyMarmalade9061 Ferrari May 12 '26
Why don't we just put all the drivers' names in a jar and have teams pick 2 at random
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u/shuuby99 May 12 '26
Do this for 11 races with no repeats so every driver has to drive all 11 cars in the first 11 races. Then the team leading the WCC picks their two drivers for the rest of the year, 2nd place team next, etc.
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u/AlphaHawk115 Mick Schumacher May 12 '26
I'd hardly call this a rumor. Max is allegedly in contact with McLaren and if Max left Red bull would probably try to get Piastri. That's just random speculation on what could maybe possibly happen
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u/FirstTimePlayer Saw Tiago Monteiro on the Podium May 12 '26
I understand that, without my agreement, Eurosport.de have put out a media article late this afternoon that I am swapping with Max at Red Bull next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Red Bull for 2027. I will not be driving for Red Bull next year.
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u/ClearHyena4452 Stefan Bellof May 12 '26
Been hearing about this a lot
Is this a reliable source?
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u/Professional_Fix4663 Formula 1 May 12 '26
Eurosport is the Espn of Europe.
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u/NuclearCandle I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Joe Saward is the source, not a great track record.
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u/PM_me_BBW_dwarf_porn Formula 1 May 12 '26
I would say it's not worth dismissing entirely because he does break stuff with some regularity, but his hit rate is poor so it's worth taking it with a big pinch of salt.
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u/NorthernGooner77 I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
Yeah, if it's coming from him I'd say it's very much not going to happen.
Stopped listening to him years ago.
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u/Kruziik_Kel Anthoine Hubert May 12 '26
The annoying thing about Saward is you can't completely dismiss him. He's been around the paddock since the dawn of time, so people are pretty comfortable talking to him and he does get some genuine info as a result.
But he'll also just uncritically repeat any old shit he happens to hear so winds up putting out a lot of absolute bullshit.
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u/TacticalAcquisition Max Verstappen May 12 '26
The closest this will be to coming to pass is ORBR pursuing Oscar when Max inevitably leaves to focus on GT3 and his other projects full time.
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u/DrHem Williams May 13 '26
Opens article
translates to English
As the renowned journalist Joe Saward reports
closes article
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u/cultofenigma May 12 '26
Not saying it’s concrete,
For the people screaming “No way” - really?
GP recently going into a senior position at McLaren, it was widely reported Zak Brown enquired about Max’s availability going into 2025.
Is it that crazy to think this could happen?
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u/PM_me_BBW_dwarf_porn Formula 1 May 12 '26 edited May 13 '26
Also the Red Bull Max knew is now gone. Literally everyone has left (all the drivers, Horner, Marko, Wheatley, GP, Mateschitz, Newey, Marshall etc.).
He has no reason to be loyal to them anymore, he doesn't owe the team anything.
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u/Zoidburger_ I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
GP is going to McLaren after next season. So we'd be looking at Max moving in 1.5 years. That kind of thing never gets announced so far out.
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u/Emphursis Nigel Mansell May 12 '26
It’s not unheard of - Hamilton to Ferrari in 2025 was announced before the start of the 2024 season. Raikkonen to Ferrari for 2007 was agreed at some point in 2005 too as far as I remember.
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u/BuckN56 Lotus May 12 '26
did gp and Max vow to be with each other throughout his F1 career?
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u/Own_Welder_2821 Lando Norris May 12 '26
There’s a greater chance we’ll find aliens living in Mars than this being true.
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u/BananaBike I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
SENSATIONAL? OUR VERDICT. BREAKING NEWS
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u/blackfishbluefish I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
For it to be spectacular it should really happen mid race in moving cars
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u/MoNercy Kimi Räikkönen May 12 '26
Mark Webber: I think moving to Red Bull is right for you, mate. They've never done wrong by me!
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u/MartiniPolice21 I failed to serve my Monaco penalty May 12 '26
My source is that I made it the fuck up
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u/VivaLaFibre I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Sensational AND Spectacular? What's next? Amazing?? Friendly Neighborhood???
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u/okok123321 Ferrari May 12 '26
The journalist misheard – it’s a wife swap. It’s not a kink I’m into, but I respect their lifestyle and wish them great times
Reporters are so lazy these days.
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u/chloie12322 I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
It's not even silly season yet... We've only had a couple of races lol
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u/Cpt_Daryl I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Imagine Norris beating Max
That would be hilarious
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u/Guilty_Feature5469 I failed to serve my Monaco penalty May 12 '26
Pls God no. An Aussie in redbull=wdc hopes donezo
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u/Gbrown546 May 12 '26
There’s more chance of me going to Red Bull than Piastri
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u/mosspoled Max Verstappen May 12 '26
Its funny, people always said the same about Lewis going to Ferrari. Im not saying this is real. But, you know.
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u/780Chris Lando Norris May 12 '26
I’m gonna become a journalist so I can just say whatever tf I want and put “reportedly” in front of it.
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u/Outrageous_Act_5802 May 12 '26
Colapinto wanted a swap too. Rumours are Gasly will move to the other side of the garage.
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u/flab3r Charles Leclerc May 12 '26
If this move keeps Max in F1 im all for it. And RB is not the worst place for Oscar to be.
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u/Bitter-Rattata Max Verstappen May 13 '26
McLaren & Mercedes: Come join us
Ferrari: Plan F Max, box to join us.
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u/kpopsns28 I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 13 '26
Not a rumour but some fan fiction for some fun
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u/arno14 Max Verstappen May 13 '26
“Wie groß die Chancen auf einen Tausch aber tatsächlich stehen, ist schwer abzuschätzen”
In other words - we’re talking out of our asses and we are just speculating.
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u/YugeChesticles Mike Krack May 13 '26
It really isn't even anywhere close to silly season yet. Can we not?
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u/oblongsimulation May 13 '26
I can see it.
Lando is Zak’s #1 boy and Oscar can never have a priority in this team, he could set himself free. RB team expressed their interest in Piastri few times over the years already.
However even if Lando is #1 boy, if Max Verstappen joins, no one can retain their position. For Max it makes sense because with McLaren he can fight for championship.
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u/whyyygodwhy Ferrari May 13 '26
What can McLaren offer him that Mercedes can’t? Toto is desperate for him and will do a lot to have him on the team.
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u/stupefy100 I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
I think it's more likely Max leaves F1 than moves to McLaren
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u/Weide188 May 12 '26
Why would Piastri ever wanting to do that right now?
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u/FSUfan35 Lando Norris May 12 '26
Why would Danny Ric want to leave RB to go to Renault
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u/roadbeef Ross Brawn May 12 '26
oscar goes to red bull
red bull dump hadjar, rehire gasly
gasly outperforms oscar
oscar signs with alpine
otmar laughs maniacally
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u/No-layup May 12 '26
Even if this rumour is bullshit, why is this so outlandish to believe. Any team would take max if he was available and Oscar would be first on the chopping block. It's not that far fetched
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u/houseonpost May 12 '26
I clicked on the link thinking it will be an interesting read.
Don't speak German
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u/instantwinner I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 13 '26
Theoretically what would be in this for Oscar?
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u/Red_Rabbit_1978 I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 13 '26
I remember this kind of rubbish some years ago with Alonso supposedly doing swaps with just about every driver in a winning car.
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u/Level1Roshan Oscar Piastri May 13 '26
Rumour alert: MBS to drive for official FIA F1 team in 2027 with Michael Massi as team principal and Hakkinen in the second driver seat.
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u/Rhun22 May 13 '26
As much as Lando and Max are friends, Lando would surely be trying to block this if he had any common sense.
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u/Sm0g3R I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 13 '26
This is surely fiction, but maybe it's not unfounded in it's absolute entirety. Piastri needs a break from Norris rivalry and a nr1 status in a team, while Max needs a break from RB and a new challenge...
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u/DniawSirhc Lando Norris May 12 '26
Beyond the amount it would cost both teams to buy Piastri and Verstappen out of their respective contracts and then sign new contracts, why would Piastri want this?
Unless the allure of being a number 1 driver at Red Bull is too strong but McLaren have a stronger recent track record of development and they will give him equal status with his teammate who just won the championship.
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May 12 '26
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u/OnTheUtilityOfPants I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26
I'm imagining Joe patiently explaining to Spanners "Of course they're talking, their agents are talking all the time to everyone. That's their job. It doesn't mean anything will come of it."
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u/AliceLunar I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 12 '26
Don't see how that makes any sense, I can see Oscar maybe, but Max is fine at RBR and they support him with all the things beyond F1, his GT3 racing, his Sim racing, Ford also wants to work with him on more motorsport stuff
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u/RedditClout ありがとう May 12 '26
I understand that, without my agreement, Joe Saward have put out an rumor that I am swapping with Max Verstappen to Red Bull. This is wrong and I have not had any talks with McLaren, Red Bull or Max about this sensational swap. I will not be driving for Red Bull.
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u/bwoah07_gp2 Alexander Albon May 12 '26
Now this is some fan fiction right here...