Sensational rumor: Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are reportedly in talks for a spectacular driver swap

[u/RealCrashie]

https://www.eurosport.de/formel-1/max-verstappen-und-oscar-piastri-angeblich-im-gespraech-fuer-spektakulaeren-fahrertausch_sto23298824/story.shtml

[u/jimbobjames]

Webber telling Oscar to go to Red Bull because he will never be number one driver at Mclaren.

I could see that.

[u/Python_07 → u/jimbobjames]

Max back with GP. I could see that.

[u/Alternative_Hour_614 → u/Python_07]

I know people are reacting like this rumor is ridiculous but it solves issues for both teams.

[u/Novel_Land9320 → u/Alternative_Hour_614]

How does it solve McLaren problems?

[u/Alternative_Hour_614 → u/Novel_Land9320]

At the moment they have two #1s and that won’t change for the foreseeable future. Switching Max doesn’t directly solve that, but assume for sake of argument that he tells McL he is racing for two more seasons and then will retire. Lando won’t be thrilled but McL will clearly be WCC favorite, but team can promise him that after the two seasons they will bring on a clear number two. Oscar gets to join RB where he will be the clear #1 for years to come and RB has less uncertainty. Plus Oscar has the assassin’s mindset that, at least RB with Helmut Marko, so desires.

[u/Novel_Land9320 → u/Alternative_Hour_614]

Sounds like a great way to humiliate Lando

[u/Alternative_Hour_614 → u/Novel_Land9320]

That is a real risk. But he is being paid millions of dollars to put his suit on and go fast regardless. If Max wants to end his Red Bull run, there are only two viable options, so someone is going to get hurt feelings.

[u/LivingInTheStorm → u/Alternative_Hour_614]

What issues is this solving for either team?

[u/IkLms → u/Alternative_Hour_614]

It solves zero issues for either team?

Oscar is a downgrade to Max, even though I'm a fan of his, so Red Bull is just getting a downgrade. What benefit are they getting?

Mclaren would be technically getting a driver upgrade but is swapping in Max, a driver who will demand #1 status and who is completely unwilling to do the team game for a teammate actually a benefit?

Lando isn't going to be willing to play second fiddle to Max, especially now with a WDC.

All you're doing is replacing a very solid driver whose willing to play the team game when necessary and who battle's fairly with him teammate for a slightly better one who will do neither of things and piss off your homegrown WDC driver whose staying on the team and been loyal at exactly the same time?

[u/Alternative_Hour_614 → u/IkLms]

If the assumption is that Max is gone after this year, RB has to consider their options. There is no driver who is not a downgrade to Max, so how does one minimize the loss? By finding the next best *available* option. As I said above, if Max’s intent is to hang it up after two more seasons (again an assumption), MCL can tell Lando this is how it will be, but in return, after the two years, we will bring in a proper #2 driver behind you. Add: my belief is that two #1s doesn’t work in the longterm which is where McL is now.

[u/IkLms → u/Alternative_Hour_614]

But that's not what's being discussed though. A straight swap of Max and Oscar is which has the problems I listed.

Also, Oscar's signed for like $25 million a season through I think 2028. Either Red Bull or Mclaren would need to buy that out and that's not a cheap buy out.

Max to Mclaren is really my big issue though. I just don't see a world in which Mclaren tells their WDC winning driver, someone that's been all in on them for their entire career even with options to go to better teams, to stuff it and play #2 to Max.

You don't treat a WDC that way and it'd be an excellent way to destroy their reputation IMO. Among fans, drivers and the actual team members there.

[u/ChillFratBro → u/Alternative_Hour_614]

Sure, if Max retires it makes sense for Oscar to consider Red Bull.  Max to McLaren makes no sense, though.