Could Oscar Piastri be heading to Red Bull? According to former racer Christian Fittipaldi, a move from the young Australian to the Austrian racing team might not be such a bad idea. Fittipaldi understands if Piastri is tired of all the internal issues at McLaren, and therefore sees the two-time Grand Prix winner as a potential replacement for the struggling Sergio Pérez.
Pérez has a contract with Red Bull until 2026, but the Mexican’s position within the team remains uncertain. The driver has been in a slump since the Grand Prix in Miami, opening the door for McLaren to overtake Red Bull in the constructors’ championship.
Rumors about who could replace the Mexican are still circulating. The names of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have been mentioned before, but former Formula 1 driver Christian Fittipaldi suggests a different potential candidate: Oscar Piastri. “At the end of the year, I certainly don’t see it as impossible that Oscar Piastri will take Pérez’s place at Red Bull for next year,” says Emerson Fittipaldi’s nephew in the Pelas Pistas podcast.
The Situation at McLaren
Fittipaldi also explains why Piastri might give up his spot at McLaren. “Piastri might be getting a little tired of the situation at McLaren. Then he will say: ‘Thanks for the help, but I have to think about myself,'” says Fittipaldi. McLaren has been struggling with team orders for a while, but now seems to be considering going all in for Lando Norris. In addition, Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber, used to race for Red Bull, and the Australian still has good ties with his former employer.
