Spa: Oscar Piastri has firmly shut down speculation linking Max Verstappen with his McLaren seat, confirming he will remain with the Woking-based team next season.

Ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, rumours had intensified suggesting that Verstappen—who has reportedly been exploring his options away from Red Bull—could make a sensational switch to McLaren. Reports from GPblog indicated that preliminary talks had even taken place between the Dutchman’s management and McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Under such a scenario, the Australian driver was widely tipped to be the one to make way.

However, speaking to the media on Thursday, Piastri delivered a definitive, one-word response when asked directly if he would be staying at McLaren: "Yes."

According to reports by RacingNews365, the 25-year-old expressed surprise that his future was being questioned. "I didn't realise it was a point of contention," Piastri said. "Obviously, I’ve seen and heard some of the rumours, and for me, I am very comfortable with where I am and where I sit."

The Australian driver, who originally signed a long-term contract extension with McLaren keeping him at the team, revealed he has received complete reassurance from the hierarchy. "Zak and Andrea and the whole team have been great through all that, very reassuring," Piastri told Motorsport Week.

Addressing his rival's situation, Piastri suggested Verstappen's link to the team was simply a driver looking at other avenues. "Clearly, Max is feeling, I don’t know, maybe he’s not in a great position at the moment or exploring options," he noted, drawing comparisons to Verstappen's previous links with Mercedes. Piastri added that he was "not really that bothered" by the noise, stating his focus remains entirely on his own performance.

With his manager Mark Webber also dismissing the rumours as "fiction", Piastri's firm response brings much-needed stability to McLaren as they head into the summer break.