What is even happening in Milton Keynes? The 2026 Formula 1 season has been nothing short of a disaster for Red Bull Racing. Why? Let’s buckle up and count the problems. First, the new RB22 chassis is still struggling to find a performance window, and then the Red Bull Ford Powertrains project is suffering from glaring reliability issues. Now, if that wasn’t bad enough, the team currently sits behind midfield runners like Haas and Alpine in the Constructors’ Championship.
So, it is not at all surprising that Max Verstappen is rapidly losing his patience. With the ongoing problems forcing the Dutchman to drive to fifth at the Miami Grand Prix, paddock whispers are pushing for the “Dutchman is seriously considering activating the exit clause in his contract” storyline. All of this does make you wonder if Red Bull has any “Plan B”, right? Well, there is. And that’s McLaren’s young superstar, Oscar Piastri.
See, it sounds like a blockbuster deal on paper. Despite Red Bull losing the Dutchman, they manage to get some young blood on the team. However, when you look at the financial and contractual reality of the 2026 grid, Red Bull isn’t plotting a masterstroke. They are walking directly into a hostage situation where McLaren CEO Zak Brown holds all the cards.
Oscar Piastri “Plan B” Panic
The moment the Miami GP was over, the rumour mill started spinning. Multiple outlets, including Motorsport.com and Fox Sports, reported that Red Bull has officially flagged the 25-year-old Piastri as their “No. 1 target.” Again, on paper, Red Bull’s logic checks out. They are not exactly sure if their current number two driver, Isack Hadjar, is ready to lead a championship campaign, and Piastri fits the precise profile of a ruthless future champion.
Adding fuel to the Piastri-to-Red Bull narrative is the fact that Piastri’s rivalry with Lando Norris is still hot and ongoing. So why is there a “panic” when everything seems to be pointing towards a better future for Red Bull? Well, the fatal flaw in Red Bull’s pursuit of Piastri is the ink on his current contract.
Back in March 2025, Piastri signed a massive multi-year extension that categorically locks him into McLaren until at least the end of 2028. McLaren is currently operating at the absolute peak of its power as the reigning Constructors’ Champions. Plus, they have the fastest, most stable car on the grid alongside Mercedes.
Now think from the POV of Piastri. Leaving your championship-winning organization to join a team currently fighting in the midfield is a clear act of self-sabotage. More importantly, Zak Brown is not going to let his prize asset walk away for free. If Red Bull truly wants to force Piastri out of his 2028 contract, they cannot simply offer him a better salary; they have to buy the contract out from McLaren.
And it’s highly doubtful they will be able to do that when Piastri is making north of $26 million (USD) per year. You’d be shelling Max Verstappen levels of acquisition money just to make this work out. This, in short, is a financial nightmare even the Red Bull empire cannot justify.
