Zak Brown issues emphatic four-word response to Helmut Marko courting Oscar Piastri

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Red Bull are searching for Max Verstappen’s future teammate as Sergio Perez faces increasing pressure to keep his seat with the team.

The Mexican may have signed a new deal with the team to keep him at the defending champions until at least 2025, but his poor run of form is leading many to speculate that his time with Red Bull is coming to an end sooner than expected.

Several candidates have been mentioned to be in the running for the second Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen. Liam Lawson is auditioning for the seat in 2025 with the junior team Visa Cash App RB, after he was drafted in to replace Daniel Ricciardo from the United States Grand Prix onwards.

Another driver being linked with a move to the Milton Keynes outfit is Oscar Piastri. The Aussie in currently contracted to McLaren until at least 2026.

McLaren have a partnership for the future in Piastri and Lando Norris, who have taken the team to the top of the Constructors’ Championship in 2024. Helmut Marko has admitted that McLaren have a stronger driver line-up than Red Bull given Perez’s inconsistent results.

Red Bull are reportedly targeting Piastri to partner Verstappen in 2026, with Marko stating that his manager Mark Webber is looking for ‘intensive dialogue’ with the team.

Zak Brown insists that his McLaren drivers ‘aren’t going anywhere’ amid Helmut Marko’s comments about Oscar Piastri

But McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been quick to shut down these rumours, and he did so further on Sky Sports F1 after FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

McLaren handed an appearance to IndyCar’s Pato O’Ward in Norris’ car for FP1. The Mexican, who is the Woking squad’s reserve driver, placed 13th in the session.

Shortly after the session, Brown was asked whether O’Ward had a future as an F1 driver, and it was here that he let Marko and Red Bull know that his drivers are not on the move anytime soon.

Speaking about O’Ward, Brown said: “Oh I definitely think he’s capable of being a Formula 1 driver.

“We’re obviously very happy with our two guys and we’ve got them signed up for quite some time. They’re not going anywhere, contrary to some speculation by one other team boss.”

Who could replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull?

There is every chance that Perez could remain with Red Bull alongside Verstappen, but given that he has not finished in the top five since Miami, it is becoming increasingly challenging for the Mexican to defend his spot in the team.

Piastri would no doubt be a huge coup from Red Bull to snatch him from McLaren, but with the Woking outfit’s current performance and advantage over their Milton Keynes rivals, they will be faced with a challenge to attract the Aussie to the team.

Lawson has displayed his talent with RB by scoring points on his F1 return in Austin and is an option for Red Bull in the future. His teammate Yuki Tsunoda is also a candidate for the second Red Bull seat, with the Japanese driver now in his fourth season with the team’s setup in F1.

It has even been suggested that Red Bull could bring in Franco Colapinto, with the Argentine currently putting in some impressive performances at Williams and beating his teammate Alex Albon in the last two races.