Red Bull Formula 1 advisor Helmut Marko has claimed Mark Webber is pushing the team to open up discussions over a potential move to sign his client Oscar Piastri.
Red Bull’s strive to have a driver in the second seat who can provide season-long support to Max Verstappen has come up short since Daniel Ricciardo exited in 2018.
Sergio Perez has lasted longer in the role than his predecessors Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, but his woes this term have prompted rumours that he could be dropped.
Despite being handed a contract extension through 2026 in June, Marko has disclosed that there are no guarantees that the Mexican will retain his place next season.
Liam Lawson, who has replaced Daniel Ricciardo mid-season at RB, is considered the leading alternative to Perez should he impress throughout the remaining events.
However, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has revealed that the side would be willing to venture outside its own driver stable as it did when it snapped up Perez in 2020.
According to F1 Insider, Red Bull views Piastri, who boasts a deal with McLaren until 2026, as a suitable option to partner Verstappen or be his long-term replacement.
But Marko has alleged that Webber, who drove with Red Bull from 2007 to 2013 and now manages Piastri’s career, is also courting discussions over a possible switch.
“Let’s put it this way: Mark Webber is intensively seeking conversation,” Marko told F1-Insider.com about that rumour.
Verstappen praises Piastri
Webber’s rumoured eagerness to assess Piastri’s options outside McLaren comes amid the side’s decision to prioritise Lando Norris’ title hopes in the closing rounds.
Verstappen, the driver who Norris is aiming to catch, expressed that Piastri is “too good” to be utilised in a support role and argued that he would not have accepted it.
“For me, he’s definitely not a [number two driver] and if I was him I would never accept it,” Verstappen explained to Motorsport.com.
“For me, it’s easy to talk, of course, because I’ve been in Formula 1 for 10 years and it’s Oscar’s second season, so it is always harder to put your foot down.
“But he’s just a great F1 driver who doesn’t deserve it to give up wins and positions and play second fiddle because he’s asked to.”
Piastri denies McLaren number two role
But while he appreciated the Dutchman’s praise, Piastri, who has won two races this term, denies that he’s been thrust into a clear number two driver role at McLaren.
“Personally I think Max is a pretty straightforward guy. He says what he thinks. We all know that,” he told media including Motorsport Week in the United States.
“So I think in my position I don’t see it as being a number one, number two.
“If I put in good performances and deserve them on merit then as we’ve said before… Baku is a perfect example, really, of not giving up everything this season purely for the benefit of Lando.
“[I’m] trying to help the team as best as I can. So it’s not simply number one, number two.
We still have the same car, we still have the same opportunities and last weekend [in Singapore] Lando did a better job than me and won the race.
“I appreciate his [Verstappen’s] support, but it’s not really how I view it.”
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