Long considered one of the greatest talents of his generation, Oscar Piastri could have joined Red Bull long before F1. A mistake that the Austrian team still seems to have not gotten over.
Piastri, the ideal successor to Verstappen?
At Red BullSome mistakes seem to leave deep scars. And the case Oscar Piastri It could very well be one of them. While rumors about the future of Max Verstappen The rumors continue to stir up the paddock, and the name of the Australian driver is now being mentioned insistently in Milton Keynes.
According to several reports circulating in the community Formula 1, Red Bull would consider Piastres as the ideal successor if Verstappen decided one day to leave the team, whether to join a competitor or even to take a temporary break from the sport.
Behind the scenes, Laurent mekies et Oliver Mintzlaff They are already preparing various scenarios to avoid any sporting upheaval should the four-time world champion leave. And clearly, the profile of Piastres check all the boxes.
It must be said that the Australian is now impressing the entire paddock. Mature, fast, methodical, and capable of handling enormous pressure despite his young age, the driver McLaren has established itself as one of the leading figures of the new generation.
Conversely, Red Bull does not yet seem entirely convinced that its current young talents, such as Isaac Hadjar, be ready to lead a team that is a contender for the world title.
But what is really fueling speculation today are the old confidences of Christian HornerThe former boss of Red Bull he himself had admitted, a few years ago, that the team had probably let a huge talent slip away.
In the podcast Beyond the Grid In 2022, Horner had admitted without hesitation: Red Bull had the opportunity to sign Oscar Piastri at the time, but we didn't seize it, which I regret.
A rare admission in a world where leaders rarely acknowledge their mistakes.
Because before becoming the rising star of McLaren, Piastres had already passed into the environment Red Bull during his formative years in single-seaters. At the time, however, the Austrian team chose not to include him in its junior program. A decision that now appears as a huge strategic blunder.
The journalist Will buxton He also believes that this renewed interest is not surprising.
"Red Bull has had Oscar Piastri in its sights for years" " he explains, before adding that the team would always regret having left Alpine and McLaren retrieve the Australian pilot.
And the more time passes, the more credible the scenario seems.
Because if Verstappen actually came to leave Red BullThe team would need a driver capable of immediately assuming the role of absolute leader. This is an extremely demanding position in a structure where the pressure is constant and where supporting roles rarely last long.
PiastresHe, however, already possesses the composure that appeals to great teams.
One major question remains: McLaren Would she even agree to open the door? Because with the current performances of her Australian driver, Red Bull risks having to bring out the big guns to hope to correct what it now considers one of the biggest mistakes in its recent history.
