F1 form sees Piastri linked with Red Bull move after Horner admission

01 August 2023 , 08:19

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Oscar Piastri has been linked with a move to Red Bull (Image: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Oscar Piastri says it is "flattering" to be linked with a move to Red Bull after former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan tipped him to partner Max Verstappen one day.

Piastri has enjoyed a good start to his F1 career at McLaren, finishing fourth and fifth at the recent British and Hungarian Grands Prix and second in the sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix. He impressed Verstappen as they tussled during the sprint and Jordan says he would "not be surprised" if Piastri ended up joining Red Bull in the future.

"I think there is big star quality in there, I'm actually blown away with this young kid, so he'd be one of the drivers I’d be looking at to challenge Max in the future," Jordan told talkSPORT. "He's managed by my old partner Mark Webber and we saw how he got him into McLaren.

"Do not be surprised if there's a seat available at Red Bull, of course where Mark used to be, don’t be surprised if he [Piastri] is named in front of the public eye in the future." And when Jordan's remarks were put to Piastri, the 22-year-old said it was "flattering" but insisted he is "very happy" at McLaren.

"It's flattering to have those comments," Piastri said. "I'm very happy where I am. But yeah, it's always nice to be talked about in those kinds of ways. I think my season's been quite good for the most part.

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"I think there's definitely been some mistakes or moments I wish I could have had again, but with hindsight, it's very easy to say those kinds of things. So yeah, I'm happy with where I'm at driving-wise, there's still a lot to improve, a lot to learn.

"I've got a very strong team-mate to learn from who just by being a benchmark is a big help for me getting back up to speed. So yeah, I'm happy where I am."

Christian Horner has previously admitted he regrets not signing Piastri to Red Bull as a youngster (PA)

Before the season began, Red Bull chief Christian Horner admitted he regrets not signing Piastri to their junior programme when he was making his way in the sport. The Australian previously raced for the Arden team Horner and his father Garry founded, but ended up winning Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles with Prema before making the jump to McLaren.

"There was an opportunity for Red Bull to look at him at the time and we didn’t take up that option, which is something that I regret," Horner told Formula 1's Beyond the Grid podcast last September.

"What he went on to achieve is phenomenal, in Formula 3 and Formula 2. You either sink or swim in this business. He's a very, very capable driver, [so] I'm sure he's going to do very well."

Matthew Cooper