Smedley warns Piastri against Red Bull move: 'I've seen that before'

Rob Smedley, former race engineer for Felipe Massa, has warned Oscar Piastri against a potential move to Red Bull, arguing that leaving a top team for a less competitive outfit rarely ends well. The warning comes amid rising speculation that Red Bull is eyeing Piastri as a successor to Max Verstappen, should the Dutchman leave.

Why it matters:

• The driver market is heating up as Verstappen's future remains uncertain. Piastri, with a title challenge in 2025 under his belt, is seen as a prime candidate for Red Bull. But Smedley's caution highlights the risk of swapping a winning environment for one where you might be number one—but without a realistic shot at the championship.

The details:

• Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Smedley drew on his Ferrari days to illustrate the trap: "If you're struggling against your teammate, what's the option? Do you leave and go to a worse team that has no chance of winning the world championship, but you might be the better driver? I've seen that on many occasions, and I've never seen it work out well."
• Red Bull's interest in Piastri has been reported as serious, with team figures Laurent Mekies and Oliver Mintzlaff prepared to make a strong bid if Verstappen signals an exit.
• David Coulthard, meanwhile, added a separate note: he believes Ferrari would suit Verstappen better than Mercedes, citing the Italian team's more relaxed atmosphere and alignment with Verstappen's lifestyle.

What's next:

• Piastri is under contract with McLaren until at least 2027, but performance clauses and Verstappen's decisions could shake things loose. If Verstappen stays at Red Bull, the Piastri chatter will quiet down. If not, Piastri faces a critical choice—one Smedley warns has historically ended in regret.