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Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMPiastri out, Verstappen in: F1 icon's massive trade call
SEN • April 15th, 2026 2:47 pm
We could be about to enter into one of the silliest seasons of F1 trades amid speculation McLaren will look to swap Oscar Piastri for Max Verstappen.
Last week, Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambise dropped the bombshell that he would depart Red Bull at the end of 2026 to join the papaya.
Immediately, reports circulated that the defection signalled Verstappen’s intent to retire from the sport, but Ralf Schumacher believes a bigger story could be set to break.
“This could mean he leaves Red Bull because he no longer believes in the team and quits altogether, especially since he never tires of emphasising how boring he finds Formula 1,” Schumacher told Sky Sports in Germany.
“Or: He goes to McLaren with his engineer, which would equally mean that there are negotiations underway at McLaren for Oscar Piastri to go to Red Bull, something we’ve seen before.
"You shouldn't stop someone who wants to leave. Gianpiero Lambiase always said 'I'm staying with Max and Max with him'. That position no longer seems to be the case.
"In my view, Max will reorient himself next year."
Currently, the four-time world champion is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but it has been well illustrated in recent years that contracts mean very little in F1.
Last March Piastri signed an extension with McLaren but, given the manner in which he came to have the seat, nobody is immune to the fickle nature of F1.
Speculation surrounding Piastri’s future at McLaren was rife throughout 2025 with many suggesting his manager Marc Webber was orchestrating a move away from the team given a purported lack of backing from Zak Brown.
Claims of preferential treatment were relentless through the season as Piastri’s lead in the F1 drivers’ title race was eroded and teammate Lando Norris was eventually crowned.
