McLaren Duo Piastri and Norris Shine in Miami Amidst Verstappen Rumours

Key facts

• Oscar Piastri finished on the podium at the Miami Grand Prix.
• Lando Norris won the Miami Grand Prix Sprint race.
• Max Verstappen is rumoured to be considering a team switch.
• Juan Pablo Montoya believes a move for Verstappen and Piastri 'makes sense'.
• McLaren introduced significant upgrades to their MCL40 car for Miami.
• Oscar Piastri's contract with McLaren extends to the end of 2028.
• Kimi Antonelli won the Miami Grand Prix for Mercedes.
• Nico Hulkenberg's Audi caught fire before the Miami Sprint race.

Rumours Swirl Around Verstappen and Piastri's Futures

The Formula 1 rumour mill is churning with intense speculation surrounding the futures of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Whispers suggest Verstappen is contemplating a fresh start after the 2025 season, while rumblings indicate Piastri's long-term commitment to McLaren might not be settled, despite his contract running until the end of 2028. These swirling rumours have been amplified by comments from seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya. He stated that Piastri's manager, former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, has expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation at McLaren to team officials. "From what I’m hearing Mark Webber is not happy the way things are going for Oscar at McLaren," Montoya told Betpack. He added that such stories can be strategically leaked to apply pressure on teams. A potential scenario being discussed is a direct swap between Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, though the financial implications for McLaren are noted as a significant consideration.

Piastri and Norris Deliver Strong Miami Performance

Amidst the off-track speculation, McLaren's drivers delivered a potent display at the Miami International Autodrome. Lando Norris secured victory in the Saturday Sprint race, finishing ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. This marked a significant return to winning ways for the Woking-based outfit. In the main Grand Prix, Norris continued his strong form, finishing second to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. Oscar Piastri completed the podium, securing a McLaren one-two-three across the Sprint and Grand Prix events. This performance has propelled the team into contention after four races in the 2026 season. These results were bolstered by a raft of upgrades brought to the MCL40 car in Miami, including revisions to the front wing, nose cone, sidepods, engine cover, floor, and rear wing. Further enhancements are anticipated for the upcoming race in Montreal, suggesting a positive trajectory for the team.

McLaren's Upgrades and Cautious Optimism

The significant performance boost in Miami is attributed to a substantial upgrade package for the MCL40. Seven distinct updates were implemented, signalling a concerted effort by McLaren to close the gap to their rivals. The team is optimistic that further improvements will be introduced for the Canadian Grand Prix. Despite the success, Lando Norris urged caution, emphasizing that Miami has historically been a circuit that favours McLaren. "I think you’d have to feel silly if you don’t feel confident about the future when we improved so much this weekend," Norris said, while acknowledging the need for a larger performance sample across different track types. He added, "You need to see how you are over a number of races and different styles of track: street circuits, hot tracks, cold tracks, tight and twisty, fast circuits. We’ve had a very good weekend, I’m very proud of the team, but I also want to make sure they keep pushing and keep trying to improve things, because we still need that."

Webber's Influence and Verstappen's Potential Move

The assertion by Juan Pablo Montoya that Mark Webber is unhappy with Oscar Piastri's situation at McLaren adds a layer of intrigue to the driver market. Webber, a former F1 driver himself, now manages dissatisfaction could be a catalyst for change. Montoya's comments suggest that Webber might be leveraging the narrative to exert pressure on McLaren for improvements or concessions for Piastri. The idea of a direct swap between Verstappen and Piastri is particularly noteworthy, especially considering Red Bull's recent struggles to consistently challenge Verstappen with a strong second driver. If Piastri were to move to Red Bull, he would likely face a more level playing field compared to his experience at McLaren, where teammate Lando Norris has often been favoured, particularly in the dramatic conclusion to the 2025 drivers' championship. Sky Sports F1 analyst David Croft also acknowledged hearing the rumour, though he expressed skepticism about its immediate weight.

Miami Grand Prix Weekend Incidents

The Miami Grand Prix weekend was not without its dramatic moments and unfortunate incidents. Nico Hulkenberg's Audi suffered a significant issue, catching fire on the way to the grid before the Sprint race, forcing him out of contention. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli experienced a challenging start to the Sprint, though he recovered to win the main Grand Prix. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton engaged in a close battle during the Sprint, with Verstappen ultimately finishing fifth after Antonelli's penalty. Other notable performances included Pierre Gasly securing the final point for Alpine. The weekend also saw tributes paid to motorsport and Paralympic legend Alex Zanardi, who had passed away shortly before the event, with a minute of silence observed.

Contractual Situation and Future Outlook

Oscar Piastri is currently under contract with McLaren until the end of the 2028 season. This long-term agreement provides a degree of stability for the Australian driver and the team. However, the intense speculation surrounding both Piastri and Max Verstappen highlights the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of Formula 1 driver contracts and team movements. dissatisfaction from Piastri's manager, Mark Webber, suggests that even long-term contracts do not preclude future negotiations or potential transfers. Piastri himself echoed Norris's sentiment of not resting on recent successes. "It’s going to be interesting to see," he commented, indicating a focus on sustained performance rather than celebrating individual strong weekends. The team's continued development and performance across various circuits will be crucial in determining the future landscape for both drivers and McLaren.

The bottom line

• Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris achieved a strong result for McLaren at the Miami Grand Prix, with Piastri on the podium and Norris winning the Sprint.
• Rumours persist about Max Verstappen potentially moving teams, with suggestions he could swap with Oscar Piastri.
• Juan Pablo Montoya believes a move for Verstappen and Piastri would be logical, citing manager Mark Webber's alleged unhappiness with Piastri's situation at McLaren.
• McLaren introduced significant car upgrades for the Miami race, contributing to their improved performance.
• Despite the success, Lando Norris expressed a need for more data across different tracks before declaring McLaren fully competitive.
• Oscar Piastri's current contract with McLaren runs until the end of the 2028 season.