Oscar Piastri is presumably the favorite to replace Max Verstappen at Red Bull, should the Dutchman decide to leave the team prematurely. Not only have rumors about Verstappen’s future in Formula 1 been circulating for weeks, but there are also whispers of disagreements between McLaren and Piastri’s manager Mark Webber. Multiple sources now report that the Australian is therefore at the top of the list to succeed Verstappen at Red Bull, should the world champion say goodbye to the Austrians.
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Max Verstappen still has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, but he has already openly expressed doubts about his future in Formula 1. The main reason is the new regulations, which in Verstappen’s words have made the cars in 2026 ‘unworthy of F1’. According to Motorsport.com, Red Bull therefore already has a plan B ready: Oscar Piastri is reportedly seen by the Austrians as the favorite to replace Verstappen, should the Dutchman leave.
Team principal Laurent Mekies and Red Bull boss Oliver Mintzlaff would then want to activate the plan to bring Piastri to Red Bull, should Verstappen move to another team, take a year off, or quit Formula 1 altogether. The Australian driver would then be preferred over drivers from Red Bull’s development program, among others.
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Webber
The rumors about Red Bull’s interest in Piastri also come amid speculation about a break between manager Mark Webber and McLaren. The manager of the Australian driver has been absent from the McLaren garage during Grand Prix weekends since the testing days in Bahrain. Piastri previously denied rumors of tensions between Webber and McLaren, confirming that his compatriot is still involved in his career. Webber himself was a driver for Red Bull between 2007 and 2013.
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