Oscar Piastri may hold the key to Max Verstappen\u2019s McLaren future at a time when one McLaren driver \u201cpolitely\u201d asked Zak Brown to fire him.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s blast through the day\u2019s main headlines at breakneck speed\u2026<\/p>\n
Oscar Piastri could hold the key to Max Verstappen\u2019s future<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Max Verstappen\u2019s battle with Oscar Piastri is no longer just about fifth in the Drivers\u2019 Championship \u2013 it could determine whether the reigning world champion ends up in a McLaren next season. <\/p>\n Both drivers have clauses in their contracts that could change Red Bull and McLaren\u2019s line-ups for the F1 2027 championship.<\/p>\n If Verstappen is third or lower in the Drivers\u2019 standings at the summer break, he could trigger an exit clause in his contract, while Piastri is reportedly vulnerable after falling outside of the top five.<\/p>\n Read next: How Verstappen\u2019s McLaren move could hinge on Piastri\u2019s F1 future<\/a><\/p>\n Christian Horner lays out winning criteria<\/p>\n Christian Horner has broken his silence on speculation over an F1 return, insisting he will only come back if it is to lead a project capable of winning.<\/p>\n Horner stepped foot in the Formula 1 paddock for the first time since his Red Bull exit at Sunday\u2019s British Grand Prix, the former team principal believed to be a guest of FIA and FOM, having been invited by both.<\/p>\n The Briton, who has been linked to Alpine and potential 12th team BYD, has made it clear that he will only return to the sport if he\u2019s in a team that can win.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no interest in just being a number in a machine,\u201d he told The Times.<\/p>\n Read next: \u2018Free agent\u2019 Horner sets out criteria for F1 return<\/a><\/p>\n Adrian Newey\u2019s first impression of his final Red Bull car<\/p>\n Adrian Newey was thrilled to debut the Red Bull RB17 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, acknowledging the track-only hypercar has been \u201ca long time in gestation.\u201d<\/p>\n Newey has led the design of the RB17 from its conception, with the former Red Bull design boss having been up the famous hill climb on Thursday as the car debuted in public.<\/p>\n The Briton, a regular at the annual event, unveiled the first in-person design model of the RB17 alongside former team principal, Christian Horner, in 2024, with Newey donning his racing helmet on Thursday for its dynamic debut.<\/p>\n Read next: Adrian Newey\u2019s first impressions as final Red Bull car debuts<\/a><\/p>\n The secret to Kimi Antonelli\u2019s F1 2026 success?<\/p>\n Jenson Button has highlighted the influence Pete Bonnington has had as Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the 2026 F1 championship standings.<\/p>\n Antonelli enjoyed a run of five successive victories to move into the lead of the world championship in just his second season in the competition.<\/p>\n Impressive as Kimi Antonelli has been, 2009 world champion Button has pointed to the calming influence of his race engineer, Pete Bonnington as a key factor in that performance.<\/p>\n Read next: Jenson Button identifies key factor behind Kimi Antonelli rise<\/a><\/p>\n Pato O\u2019Ward has \u2018politely asked to be fired\u2019 from his reserve McLaren role <\/p>\n Pato O\u2019Ward has politely asked Zak Brown to fire him from his job as McLaren F1 reserve driver, as Formula 1 is no longer his dream, especially where the cars are \u201ccurrently\u201d.<\/p>\n O\u2019Ward has been involved in McLaren\u2019s Formula 1 programme since 2022, and has driven the team\u2019s cars in five First Free Practice young driver sessions, while also running in TPC [Testing Previous Car] outings.<\/p>\n But today the Mexican racer says he is done with F1, he wants to focus solely on his IndyCar career with McLaren.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m in a great place in IndyCar, I love the series, it\u2019s where I want to be, looking at where the [F1] race cars are currently, I\u2019m not really excited to drive one, so I\u2019ve politely asked to be fired from all my services in Formula 1.\u201d<\/p>\n Read next: Pato O\u2019Ward asks McLaren to end F1 reserve role as IndyCar wins out<\/a><\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n