Max Verstappen responds to Oscar Piastri's claim that McLaren asked him to support his teammate in the remaining races.

"We had a very brief discussion on it, and the answer is no," the Australian told reporters on Thursday. "I'm still equal on points with Max and I've got a decent shot of still winning it if things go my way, so yeah, that's how we'll play."

When told of the request, Verstappen's response was a little more forthright.

"You can't do a better job than allowing them to race as well, because why would you suddenly now say that Oscar wouldn't be allowed anymore?" the Dutchman told PA. "If that was said to me I would have not rocked up. I would have told them to 'F off'," he added. "If you're a real winner in a race, as a driver, then you go for it, even if you're behind.

"What's the point otherwise to turning up?" he continued. "Otherwise, you can easily just label yourself as a number two driver which I think he doesn't want to be.

"Then for me, I know that I'm equal on points with Oscar. I think it should be like that, that they are free to race and hopefully we can make it a great battle until the end.

"Your dream is to win a championship and that is when the pressure is on," he insisted. "It was the same for me when I was fighting for my first title. You definitely feel more pressure of being in that fight and thinking 'this is my chance' and not knowing if you will get another one.

"People can hide a lot," he continued. "And I would if I was in his position. The pressure of getting it over the line is in the back of his mind. He is more affected by it when someone says something negative but every person is different. I don't care. I am like 'whatever, you can say what you want'.

"When you have won four world championships already, it is amazing and I shouldn't be in the fight really but I am here," he added.

All that aside, not for the first time, the four-time world champion suggested that Lando Norris has made a meal of the championship fight this season and that were he at the wheel of the MCL39 the title would already have been decided.

Asked how he thinks things would have gone were he driving the McLaren, the Dutchman grinned and replied: "We wouldn't be talking about a championship. It would already have been won, easily.

"I mean they won the constructors' championship so early that yeah, you can fill it in yourself."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 30/11/2025 10:55

"@BillH - I’m not sure Verstappen would want Piastri in the other Red Bull. Like Schumacher and Senna, Verstappen understands that securing multiple WDCs requires absolute number 1 status and a team that focuses its efforts on his side of the garage. Piastri does not fit the mould of number 2 driver.
"

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2. Posted by Geeza1966, 29/11/2025 22:27

"Yes ffracer... you are spot on... I suppose I was just casting my mind back to when F1 was all about who had the biggest spherical's and without all of the current politically correct fun police at large.... Good spot by you mate...:-) Oh... And maybe a certain M Schumacher would also have had something equally blunt in German to say about proceedings too..... Enjoy the title run in mate..."

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3. Posted by ffracer, 29/11/2025 21:46

"@Geeza1966 - well said but you forgot Alonso and Hamilton!"

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4. Posted by Geeza1966, 29/11/2025 21:19

"Lol... Good on you Max... Just say it how Mansell, Jones, Senna, Piquet & Prost et all would undoubtedly have done so........ Luv it..."

"I would have told them to 'F off'," says Verstappen

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