Red Bull identified Oscar Piastri as the main alternative to replace Max Verstappen if the four-time champion leaves the team. The information circulated in the paddock during the Miami GP, where the team experienced another challenging weekend in the 2026 season. The 25-year-old Australian defends McLaren with a contract valid until the end of 2027, but sources close to Red Bull confirmed that his name is gaining internal strength as a contingency plan.
Red Bull faces critical moment of transition
The team occupies fourth position in the constructors’ championship after the first four stages of 2026. The distance to leaders Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari has increased significantly. Embora Verstappen has performed better than Miami, the car as a whole still does not keep pace with its main rivals.
Helmut Marko’s departure at the end of 2025 accelerated a change in philosophy within the team. Laurent Mekies, current team leader, and Oliver Mintzlaff evaluate external options to strengthen the project. The previous model, which prioritized internal development of academy talent alongside an experienced leader, yielded titles with Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Verstappen himself. Agora, the board seeks to consolidate competitiveness by hiring pilots already established in the market.
Piastri demonstrates stability and evolution at McLaren
The Australian driver is going through a good phase in the current season. Ele took the podium in Japão and Miami after a start marked by an accident before the start in Austrália. The relationship with McLaren stabilized after adjustments to the work structure. Pedro Matos, an engineer from the F2 days at Prema, started working directly with Piastri, reducing internal tensions and improving communication with the team.
Mark Webber, his manager and former Red Bull driver, was absent from pre-season testing at Bahrein. Relatos from the paddock indicate that Webber may have initiated exploratory contacts with other structures. A return to dialogue with Red Bull would not surprise observers close to the Fórmula 1 circus.
Contratos do not function as absolute barriers
Piastri remains linked to McLaren until 2027, while Verstappen remains contracted to Red Bull for the same period. Porém, in the history of Fórmula 1, contracts rarely act as insurmountable obstacles when a driver demonstrates a genuine desire to change teams. Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, would be a central figure in any negotiations and could transform a possible exit into a relevant financial gain for the team.
Verstappen has expressed dissatisfaction with the new 2026 technical regulations in recent interviews.
Piastri brings together youth, speed and potential for evolution for a long-term project.
Red Bull seeks to maintain high competitiveness in the event of the Dutchman’s departure.
Contratação of Sergio Perez in 2021 already represented an exception due to operational necessity.
Estratégia of Milton Keynes favors consolidated talent
The board at Milton Keynes assesses the scenario cautiously. The team publicly maintains that Verstappen remains in the project, but is simultaneously preparing alternatives to avoid loss of competitiveness. Piastri appears as an ideal option in the new recruitment model. Aos 25 years old, still has significant room for growth and already competed for the title against Lando Norris in the previous season, demonstrating consistency on the track.
Red Bull faces immediate pressure to react in 2026. The team accumulates points far from the leaders and needs structural stability to return to the winning path. The possible hiring of Piastri would represent a strategic move to strengthen the medium-term project, regardless of the decisions that Verstappen may take in the coming months.
