'The ideal replacement': Oscar Piastri responds to Red Bull boss' bombshell contract claims
Oscar Piastri has rejected suggestions from Helmut Marko he could be looking for an out for his long-term McLaren deal to join Red Bull.
Piastri signed a two-year extension midway through last season that will keep him with the Woking squad until the end of 2026.
But Marko – who has defied several orders from the team to stop talking to media – told F1 Insider Piastri's manager, fellow Aussie and former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, had been chasing the team for meetings.
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"Let's put it this way: Mark Webber is intensively seeking conversation," he said.
Already highly-rated in the paddock, Piastri proved his world championship-winning credentials with his epic victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, in which he withstood immense pressure from Charles Leclerc lap after lap.
Red Bull supremo Helmut Marko has suggested Oscar Piastri's management is pushing for a meeting with the team. Getty
To the same publication, former driver Ralf Schumacher said securing Piastri's services would also be a smart move for Red Bull, particularly if Verstappen were to follow Adrian Newey to Aston Martin at the end of 2025.
"(Piastri) is not only a super talent, but also extremely tough. He will only get batter in the future and the small disadvantages he has compared to Norris will soon disappear," he said.
"Piastri would be the ideal replacement (for Verstappen)."
Webber has already proven a mastermind in putting his driver in the right place at the right time. It was Webber who got Piastri into McLaren for 2023 after spotting a looming deadline loophole in his Alpine contract.
Piastri drove a stunning race to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Getty
But for any team to be able to secure Piastri before the end of his McLaren deal, it would no doubt include a hefty buy-out fee.
But Piastri has already shut down the rumours, telling media in Mexico he has eyes only for McLaren.
"I'm very happy where I am. I'm under contract for the next two years after this, and I'm certainly not looking to go anywhere else," he said.
"It wouldn't be an F1 week without comments from Helmut."
In the 12-race stretch between the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola and the Singapore Grand Prix, Piastri and Norris tied for most points scored with 196 each. Verstappen was a point behind with 195.
But Piastri's slow start to the season means he still lies 50 points behind Norris, and 107 behind Verstappen.
Although the driver's championship is now almost certainly out of reach for Norris, Piastri will regardless still be expected to support his teammate in the final five races of the season.
The F1 season continues with the Mexican Grand Prix on Monday morning (AEDT).
