Red Bull chief hints at bombshell talks with this McLaren driver

Red Bull senior advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko, has made an astonishing claim that could send shockwaves across the whole Formula 1 world should his claim become a reality. 

While speaking with Taylor Powling of Motorsport Week, Marko claims that former Red Bull driver Mark Webber is intensively looking to open negotiations with the team about signing his client, McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri. 

On the rumors, Marko said:

"Let's just put it this way, Mark Webber is intensively seeking the conversation."

Webber, who drove for Red Bull between 2007-13 manages his fellow Aussie and was an instrumental piece in severing the ties between Piastri and Alpine, where he was a junior driver, before bringing him to McLaren in 2023. Webber's eagerness to look for other potential suitors for his client comes amid rumored frustrations McLaren are prioritizing Lando Norris' title charge in the closing parts of the season.

Webber, known for his famous "not too bad for a No. 2 driver" radio message after winning the 2010 British Grand Prix, may believe his client Piastri is too good to be playing second fiddle at McLaren, which is why he could be exploring options elsewhere. 

However, Webber is not the only one in this line of thinking, while speaking with Motorsport.com  at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, Red Bull's Max Verstappen shared his thoughts on Piastri's current situation at McLaren saying:

"For me, he's definitely not a No. 2 driver and if I was him I would never accept it."