Jonas Leo
The speculation surrounding Verstappen’s future, fuelled by recent internal power struggles within Red Bull GmbH, has intensified the focus on potential replacements. Buxton, speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, highlighted the gravity of the situation. "Now this is interesting for a number of reasons, but the first being that Red Bull, I think, is taking Max’s threat very seriously if they are seriously lining up people that they would like to replace him with," Buxton remarked, underscoring the team’s proactive approach to contingency planning.
Naomi Schiff, co-host of the podcast and a former W Series driver, echoed Buxton’s assessment, strongly endorsing Piastri as an ideal candidate for Red Bull. Schiff pointed to Piastri’s consistent on-track performances and his remarkable ability to maintain composure under pressure as key attributes that align with Red Bull’s demanding environment. "What this does highlight is how highly Red Bull regards Oscar Piastri," Schiff stated. "And hats off to him because yes, he didn’t win the championship last year, but he was a very, very strong contender. And he’s such a consistent, sort of ice-cold, never really lets his emotions get the best of him."
Piastri’s rookie season in Formula 1 with McLaren in 2023 served as a compelling demonstration of his talent. Despite it being his inaugural year in the pinnacle of motorsport, the Australian secured two podium finishes, including a sprint race victory at the Qatar Grand Prix and a third-place finish in the main race there. He finished ninth in the Drivers’ Championship with 97 points, a highly commendable performance for a debutant and a testament to his rapid adaptation to F1 machinery and the competitive landscape. His junior career was equally illustrious, winning the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019, the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2020, and the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2021, all in his respective rookie seasons. This exceptional trajectory marked him as one of the most promising talents in recent memory.
Schiff elaborated on Piastri’s potential fit, suggesting that his temperament would be advantageous in a high-pressure team like Red Bull. "I think that for that reason, he’s quite a good fit for Red Bull. Not that that doesn’t make him a good fit for McLaren, but I actually could see him in a Red Bull seat," she added. She also touched upon the competitive dynamic within teams, particularly concerning Piastri’s current situation at McLaren alongside Lando Norris. "I think that there is an element of him maybe not wanting to share as much glory with his team-mate, and that’s quite a tough environment when you go head-to-head constantly with the same person. And if there’s a slight preference for Lando, which some people feel there is, then maybe that’s why he’s got his ears sort of perked up."
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The core of Red Bull’s "regret," as explained by Buxton, stems from their oversight during Piastri’s formative years in motorsport. Red Bull is renowned for its comprehensive and often ruthless junior driver program, which has historically groomed multiple world champions, including Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, along with other Grand Prix winners like Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz. This program typically identifies and invests in prodigious talents from karting, guiding them through the feeder series with the ultimate goal of promoting them to Toro Rosso (now RB) and eventually Red Bull Racing. For a talent like Piastri, who swept through F3 and F2 championships, to have slipped through their net represents a significant anomaly for a team so dedicated to talent scouting.
"Red Bull has had its eyes on Oscar Piastri for years," Buxton confirmed later in the podcast. "They’ve gone on the record as stating that they wished they’d signed him when he was a junior driver, that they shouldn’t have let him go into the Alpine Academy. They shouldn’t have then let McLaren get their hands on him and tear him away from Alpine. They know they missed the bus when it came to Oscar Piastri."
Piastri’s journey through the junior categories saw him aligned with the Alpine Academy, the driver development program of the Renault-owned Formula 1 team. However, a highly publicised contractual dispute in 2022 saw Piastri ultimately depart Alpine for McLaren, a move that required intervention from Formula 1’s Contract Recognition Board (CRB) to resolve. The CRB ruled in favour of McLaren, allowing Piastri to join the Woking-based squad for the 2023 season. This dramatic saga underscored the intense competition among F1 teams to secure top young talent, and it was during this period that Red Bull’s prior omission of Piastri likely became even more pronounced.
For Red Bull, a team that prides itself on identifying and nurturing future stars, missing out on Piastri during his junior career would indeed be a source of long-term regret. Their junior programme has a track record of demanding excellence and making swift, decisive personnel changes. The fact that Piastri achieved success independently, without the direct backing of the Red Bull system, and then immediately demonstrated his potential in F1, highlights the extent of their missed opportunity.
The current landscape of the Formula 1 driver market is highly dynamic. Contracts, team performance, and inter-team relationships constantly influence movements. While Piastri is currently contracted with McLaren until the end of the 2026 season, and Verstappen until 2028 with Red Bull, the nature of Formula 1 means that discussions and strategic considerations are always ongoing. "It’s very normal in F1 for teams and drivers to be courting each other for quite a long time," Buxton noted, indicating that such high-level discussions are part of the sport’s fabric.
Piastri’s impressive debut season not only solidified his reputation as a formidable talent but also made him a highly attractive prospect for any top team seeking long-term stability and success. His blend of raw speed, technical understanding, and unshakeable calm positions him as one of the most coveted assets on the grid. Red Bull’s reported interest, coupled with the acknowledged regret from their past, underscores Piastri’s exceptional standing in the sport and the potential for significant shifts in the driver market in the coming years. "He’s one of the most impressive drivers in Formula 1, and he’s probably the guy that you would want to lead your team," Buxton concluded, encapsulating the high regard in which Piastri is held within the paddock.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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