Red Bull could now replace Max Verstappen with ‘impressive’ driver amid Oscar Piastri’s Audi talks

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Oscar Piastri would be Red Bull’s top target should Max Verstappen leave the F1 team but, as the McLaren ace is also in talks with Audi, Carlos Sainz may become an option.

Verstappen has the key to the F1 driver market for the 2027 grid, as it is now mathematically certain that the four-time champion will have the right to use a release clause in his contract for Red Bull through 2028. Reports are also emerging that Verstappen is set to join McLaren.

Spinning out of last Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone ensured Verstappen cannot hit the summer break in the top two in the F1 drivers’ standings, which would have negated the clause. Verstappen is seventh and trails second by 78 points with two rounds until the break.

If you were Zak Brown, would you sign Max Verstappen or keep Oscar Piastri?

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Red Bull see Carlos Sainz as a ‘stopgap’ if Oscar Piastri joins Audi instead

Piastri is widely seen as the man McLaren would make available in order to sign Verstappen, and thus open the door for a straight seat swap with the Australian then moving to Red Bull. But a report recently surfaced that Mark Webber is speaking to Audi about a deal for Piastri.

READ MORE: The best moments of Oscar Piastri’s career in Formula 1

Webber’s efforts to source a possible route out of McLaren for Piastri could throw Red Bull’s plans for a post-Verstappen future into chaos. OE24 claims Red Bull ‘hoped’ to have an easy path to signing Piastri, yet are now having to eye a back-up capable of replacing Verstappen.

The most credible alternative would be Carlos Sainz, as his future at Williams is shrouded in doubt amid their difficult start to the 2026 season. Williams could replace Sainz with Sergio Perez, too, as the Mexican is ‘unhappy’ at Cadillac after the American team’s difficult debut.

But Red Bull are not as keen about signing Sainz as they would be to sign Piastri in the event that Verstappen triggers his release clause. In fact, Red Bull only view Sainz as a ‘stopgap’ to fill the Dutchman’s void for at least the 2027 season until a more long-term option appears.

Williams are desperate to keep Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon for 2027

A long-term option could eventually come from Racing Bulls, but Red Bull do not feel Arvid Lindblad or Liam Lawson can replace Verstappen right now. The Briton and New Zealander are impressing with Racing Bulls, but Red Bull would want a big name if Verstappen leaves.

Will Carlos Sainz ever drive for a top F1 team again? If so, who?

Toto Wolff confirmed that Carlos Sainz was an option before Mercedes signed Kimi Antonelli

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Williams know that Sainz could force his way onto the F1 driver market for 2027, as well, as his contract is currently set to end this year. Sainz joined Williams in 2025 on an initial two-year deal, which boasts options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons that currently seem unlikely.

It is said that Williams will move heaven and earth to retain Sainz, and team principal James Vowles has asserted that keeping the 31-year-old and teammate Alex Albon in 2027 is their target. Alpine are monitoring Albon as he, too, could leave Williams at the end of this term.

“[There is] zero doubt in my mind that this is the pairing that I want,” Vowles told the official F1 website in May. “They are aware of it….

“They are both hugely impressive, because it was a tough winter. I called them pretty much daily on here’s where we are and here’s what’s changing. As it changed around us, I wanted to make sure they had awareness of it.

“So, it was bad news stories that kept coming for weeks. But my ask to them was, ‘You are a leader of this organisation, as I am, so make sure we pull together and directionally pull the team forward’.”