McLaren urged to keep driver line-up stable as Hakkinen warns against Verstappen swap

Two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen told the Up to Speed podcast that McLaren should avoid replacing Oscar Piastri with Max Verstappen, arguing that such a change could damage the stability and balance the team has worked hard to build. He said McLaren’s philosophy has always been to prioritize the overall strength of the team, stressing that long‑term success comes from a strong team spirit and harmony in the garage, and cited his own experience with the team’s continuity during his tenure.

Former driver Gerhard Berger also weighed in, praising Red Bull’s progress with its own engine programme and highlighting Verstappen’s importance to the project, but his comments were secondary to Hakkinen’s warning about driver‑line‑up stability at McLaren.