Australian driver Oscar Piastri at the centre of bombshell Formula One switch claim

Australian Formula One driver Oscar Piastri is at the centre of a bombshell claim made by veteran Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko.

Marko has made the staggering claim that Piastri’s management is “intensively seeking conversation” with Red Bull ... which has forced a swift response from Piastri.

Piastri — who is managed by former Aussie driver Mark Webber — is under contract with McLaren and has a deal that expires at the end of the 2026 season.

“Let’s put it this way, Mark Webber is intensively seeking conversation,” Marko told the F1 Insider.

Webber has links with Red Bull, racing with the team from 2007-13.

And Marko’s claim comes as speculation grows over Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull.

Piastri quickly responded to the chatter when facing the media ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.

“I think we all know that Helmut says a lot of things in the press,” he said.

“As far as I’m aware there’s no truth to it.

“I’m very, very happy where I am.

“The team have supported me massively since I came into F1, they gave me my opportunity in F1.

“At the moment in the standings we’re in a very happy place, so I am more than happy with where I am at the moment.”

Piastri is considered by many as the next big thing in F1 after claiming his maiden win in Hungary this season.

He then backed that up with another impressive win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Piastri’s run since the end of June, starting at the Austrian Grand Prix, has been sensational - he enjoyed a sequence that read 2nd, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 2nd and 1st.

He finished fifth in the last grand prix in the US and is currently fourth in the standings.

Ralf Schumacher — the younger brother of legendary driver, Michael — highly rates Piastri.

“If I were Red Bull, I would also endeavour to get Piastri,” Schumacher recently said.

“He is not only a super talent, but also extremely hard-nosed.

“He will get even better in the future and the small disadvantages he still has compared to Norris will soon disappear.

“Furthermore, Red Bull cannot rely on Verstappen still being in the team in 2026.

“They have to be prepared for that. Piastri would be the ideal replacement. I am therefore very curious to see how McLaren will approach the Piastri issue in the future.”