Oscar Piastri insists there is "no rush" to open contract talks with McLaren, despite fresh questions over his long-term future following the team's announcement of a contract extension for Lando Norris until the end of 2030.
The speculation was reignited after McLaren confirmed Norris' long-term commitment, a move that came after summer rumours linking Max Verstappen to the team. Those rumours were ultimately dismissed as a negotiating tactic by Verstappen's management, who later agreed an extension with Red Bull.
Piastri's Contract Still Has Time
Piastri stressed that his current deal still has a considerable duration, so there is no urgency to negotiate. "I'm good for now," he told media including Motorsport.com at Monza.
"Mine's still for a while, so there's no rush to get into those talks at all. It's not a surprise at all – he's just won the championship with the team, and the team has won the constructors' championship twice," he added.
His initial contract with McLaren, signed when he joined in 2023, would have expired at the end of this season, but he signed a "multi-year" extension at the beginning of last year, understood to run until at least the end of 2028. That gives him ample time to weigh his options.
Team Stability and Contract Clauses
Piastri believes Norris' long-term extension does not significantly alter his own situation. "I don't think it changes a whole lot for me. It's probably better for us as drivers that there's a bit more stability around in general," he said.
"Max has had a contract this whole time and his contract's been spoken about pretty much every year. I'm sure there's clauses in both directions at various points, so I would be amazed if there's any massive contracts that have no wriggle room from the team side or the driver's side," he explained.
He added that long-term contracts signify commitment and intent to work together. "Even a two-year deal's not that short, but a longer deal shows a stronger commitment from both sides," he concluded.
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