P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Oscar Piastri has denied that the speculation connecting Max Verstappen with a possible move to Mercedes in F1 could be a distraction to the Red Bull driver.
Oscar Piastri has dismissed the idea that rumors of Max Verstappen potentially moving to Mercedes in Formula 1 could affect Verstappen’s performance for Red Bull.
As Verstappen’s and Red Bull’s chances for the title have lessened in 2025, news of discussions between Verstappen’s camp and Mercedes have emerged.
Verstappen’s recent setbacks, such as retiring in Austria and facing technical issues at Silverstone, have put him 69 points behind Piastri in the championship race with 12 races remaining.
Piastri, leading with an eight-point advantage over Lando Norris, believes Verstappen’s future decisions won’t detract from his own focus and doesn’t see it as giving McLaren an advantage.
While Red Bull has struggled compared to McLaren in 2025, Verstappen recognizes the reality that their current package may not be as competitive and accepts that they may not reach McLaren’s level of performance.
