The Formula 1 rumor mill is buzzing with news that Red Bull Racing has reportedly shortlisted McLaren's Oscar Piastri as a potential replacement for Max Verstappen. According to a report from Motorsport.com, the Milton Keynes-based team is preparing to move forward with the Piastri plan if the four-time world champion decides to part ways with the team.

Verstappen's growing interest in real-world GT3 and endurance racing, combined with his dissatisfaction with the current 2026 F1 regulations and Red Bull's ongoing struggles with the RB22 car, could all be factors paving the way for his exit. While Verstappen's contract runs through the end of 2028, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies and managing director Oliver Mintzlaff are reportedly ready to sign Piastri if the Dutch driver decides to leave before then.

The internal dynamics at Red Bull have shifted dramatically over the past year, making it a very different team from the one that dominated F1 during Verstappen's title runs. Christian Horner's ousting and the departure of senior advisor Helmut Marko—with whom Verstappen was particularly close—have created a new environment within the team. Additionally, Verstappen's long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is slated to join McLaren in 2028 as chief racing officer, which could further contribute to Verstappen's detachment from both Red Bull and F1.

Piastri, who previously managed his career with former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, has since switched to Pedro Matos—his former F2 engineer at Prema—for the current season. This move could have relieved McLaren, as the Australian driver continues to impress on track. With Red Bull keeping a Plan B in place, all eyes are on Verstappen's next move and whether Piastri will be the one to fill the void in the team's iconic blue and yellow livery.