Red Bull hunting for a new driver
Red Bull are keeping a close eye on Oscar Piastri’s results. The team is already weighing up its options for the future line-up. Max Verstappen’s contract runs out in 2027, and whether he sees out his career there is far from certain.
Laurent Mekies and Oliver Mintzlaff are putting together a fallback plan. If Verstappen were to miss a year or walk away, the team would have to find a new leader. That lead driver shapes the car’s technical direction. The company has more than 2,000 employees. Its junior programme includes Isack Hadjar, but the youngster does not yet have the experience to step into that role straight away.
Oscar Piastri’s management and the Red Bull way
Mark Webber and Ann Neal handle Oscar Piastri’s sporting interests. The former driver has cut back his time in the garage this season. Engineer Pedro Matos now travels with the Australian on race weekends. That reshuffle has changed the way McLaren communicates internally. Piastri has still delivered podiums at Suzuka and Miami.
Red Bull’s recruitment plan is shifting as well. Helmut Marko spent 20 years building a system around its junior ranks. That approach helped bring through Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen. The current leadership is taking a different line. The team is now looking at drivers tied to other outfits.
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The McLaren contract and the talks
Oscar Piastri is tied to McLaren by a valid contract. The deal runs until the end of the 2027 season. Team boss Zak Brown handles the contract clauses. Any move would need a direct financial negotiation between the two team bosses.
Reports have talked up a driver swap between the two manufacturers. That would involve Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. But there is no hard evidence to back it up. At present, the only thing on the record is Red Bull’s interest in the Australian.
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