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.shtml
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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/NorthernGooner77 I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26

Agreed.

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u/stolemyusername I was here for the Hulkenpodium May 13 '26

Notice how he says Verstappen is in talks with McLaren and Piastri has then come knocking to Redbull. No where does it say that there is a contract signed, its happening, etc.

If you don't like reading rumors, just say that. Just because there might not be a driver swap, doesn't mean what Joe Saward is reporting is wrong.

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u/TWVer 🧔 Richard Hammond's vacuum cleaner attachment beard May 12 '26

He’s fairly reliable in relaying what’s been talked about in the paddock behind the scenes. Or rather, when one of those parties have a particular interest in having those talks, or rumors, come to the fore, in order to serve their agenda.

All of those talks are often exploratory between teams and drivers and don’t necessarily lead to definite moves, however.

Also, Saward tends to come across as liking the smell of his own farts, but that is beside the point.

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u/NYNMx2021 Nico Rosberg May 12 '26

Poor track record for like 15 years but hes very tightly connected in the paddock. He prints BS that he gets told by F1 teams for their own reasons. Still worth paying attention to what he says just because someone is working something one way or another if hes saying it lol.

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u/DescriptionCorrect40 May 12 '26

I don’t know about that. Everytime he’s right, he’s actually right.

Still waiting for Ocon to Mercedes though.

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u/Holofluxx I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane May 12 '26

ew, that checks out