- Red Bull has named Oscar Piastri as its preferred Verstappen replacement.
- Verstappen’s exit clause could activate before the summer break.
- A straight swap between Verstappen and Piastri is gaining traction in the paddock.
Red Bull has identified Oscar Piastri as its preferred replacement for Max Verstappen, should the four-time world champion leave the team.
Multiple sources confirmed this in the Miami Grand Prix paddock, according to a report by Motorsport.com’s Roberto Chinchero.
The plan is currently a contingency, not an active pursuit, but its existence signals how seriously Red Bull is treating the possibility of life without Verstappen.
Verstappen remains under contract for 2026 and beyond. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies and head of motorsport Oliver Mintzlaff are nonetheless preparing a “Plan B.”
That plan centres on Piastri if Verstappen chooses to switch teams, take a sabbatical or retire.
Why Red Bull cannot rely on its junior programme alone
Red Bull has long prided itself on developing its own drivers.
The late Helmut Marko spent over two decades building that pipeline, producing Sebastian Vettel, promoting Daniel Ricciardo and eventually building the entire operation around Verstappen.
But Marko’s departure has shifted how the team thinks about recruitment.
Under Mekies, Red Bull appears willing to look beyond its own ranks. The 21-year-old Isack Hadjar is regarded internally as a long-term prospect, not an immediate solution.
The team views him as an investment in the future rather than someone ready to lead right now.
Piastri fits a very different profile. He is young, consistent and still improving. Motorsport.com reported that the signing of Sergio Perez years ago was driven by necessity.
A move for Piastri, by contrast, would be a calculated strategic choice.
The Verstappen factor: frustration, exit clauses and an uncertain future
Verstappen has not hidden his frustration with F1’s 2026 technical regulations. The new cars draw roughly half their power from battery energy, a shift he has criticised repeatedly.
ESPN sources suggest he is leaning toward a sabbatical rather than full retirement, though neither outcome guarantees a return in a fast-moving sport like F1.
After the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen told the BBC:
“I think I’m committing 100 per cent, and I’m still trying. But the way that I am telling myself to give it 100 per cent, I think, is not very healthy at the moment because I am not enjoying what I’m doing.”
His contract reportedly contains a performance-related exit clause. Under its terms, he can leave Red Bull if he is not within the top two of the drivers’ championship by the summer break.
Given Mercedes’ strong form and Red Bull’s difficult start to the season, that threshold could be reached sooner than anyone at Milton Keynes would like.
Mekies has tried to keep attention on performance. After the Japanese Grand Prix, he said:
“We have a lot of work to do, but I’m sure by the time we give him a fast car, he will be a much happier Max.”
Whether a faster car changes Verstappen’s deeper frustration with the formula itself remains an open question.
Mark Webber, McLaren dynamics and the road ahead
One thread running through the Piastri story is his relationship with manager Mark Webber, a former Red Bull driver.
Webber did not attend pre-season testing in Bahrain this year. Piastri instead worked trackside with Pedro Matos, his former F2 engineer at Prema.
Piastri downplayed any suggestion of a falling-out. Speaking earlier this year, he explained:
“There wasn’t anything specific; we just made a decision for things to look a bit different. Mark is still very much involved.”
He also told Fox Sports Australia that his growing experience now allows him to handle more himself. The paddock has not entirely accepted that explanation.
Former driver Juan Pablo Montoya told Betpack:
“From what I’m hearing, Mark Webber is not happy the way things are going for Oscar at McLaren.”
The Colombian also raised the idea of a direct swap between Verstappen and Piastri, saying: “There’s a suggestion that Max and Piastri could do a straight swap. That makes some sense.”
Ralf Schumacher made a similar point on Sky Sports Germany’s podcast, arguing that Piastri’s position at McLaren also plays a role.
“This rivalry with Norris is set to continue,” Schumacher said. “They don’t have a clear number one.”
Piastri is contracted to McLaren through 2027, with some reports suggesting an extension to 2028. McLaren CEO Zak Brown has said nothing publicly.
But the Motorsport.com report noted that if Piastri’s desire to leave became clear, Brown would look to convert a difficult situation into a significant commercial opportunity.
Several outlets have reported that no other driver on the current grid fits Red Bull’s requirements as cleanly as Piastri does, with the possible exception of Kimi Antonelli.
Piastri, for his part, has kept his head down. Podiums in Japan and Miami have shown his quality after a slow start to the season.
But with Verstappen’s future unresolved and Red Bull quietly making plans, the 24-year-old Australian now finds himself at the centre of what could become the most consequential driver move in years.
