Red Bull make Piastri regret confession
Red Bull make Piastri regret confession
Christian Horner has confessed to passing up on the opportunity to sign Oscar Piastri to the Red Bull junior programme.
Piastri will make his F1 debut for McLaren next season after a contract dispute with Alpine was recently resolved by the Contract Recognition Board.
The Australian was sublime throughout his junior formula career, taking championship victories in F3 and F2 in successive years before developing his talent as Alpine reserve driver this season.
Piastri raced for Horner's former team Arden International [founded by father, Garry] during his early career and the Red Bull team principal confessed he missed out on the talent.
"Oscar drove for Arden in F4 and Formula Renault," Horner told the Beyond the Grid podcast.
"He was obviously a significant talent and 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 I regret.
"What he went on to achieve is phenomenal in F3 and F2."
Piastri would have been "under lock and key" with Red Bull
Piastri caused a stir when denying Alpine's promotion to a race seat for next year when the team was blindsided by Fernando Alonso's move to Aston Martin.
It transpired the team had no valid contract with Piastri, who had already signed his contract with McLaren.
On how he would have handled the situation, Horner said: "If he had been a driver here, there is no way he wouldn't have been under lock and key for a period of time.
"It was difficult to judge what was promised but it was certainly unexpected from several areas.
"Fernando dropped the stone in the pond and created the ripple that rolled out over numerous seats.
"He is a great driver. The only problem he now has to deal with is the expectation on him will be immense."
Piastri must deliver against Norris
Piastri will partner Lando Norris at McLaren where the British driver has made the team his own in recent years.
Fellow Australian and former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo has failed to match Norris over the past two seasons.
Horner, though, has warned Piastri faces an uphill task in his rookie season.
"He is going to have to get in and deliver against Lando, which is no mean feat but you either sink or swim in this business," he said.
"He is a very capable driver and I am sure he is going to do very well."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton dealt China blow after major FIA decision as Ricciardo given huge Horner warning - GPFans F1 Recap
- 3 hours ago
F1 team unveil star-studded lineup in China
- Yesterday 23:12
F1 Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 22:27
Horner delivers threat to Ricciardo over Red Bull pressure
- Yesterday 21:57
F1 Sprint Race Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 21:27
Wolff left FUMING with Mercedes despite amazing Hamilton lap
- Yesterday 20:57
Related news
F1 team announces 2026 title bid in BLOW to Red Bull
Wolff 'p*****' by Verstappen error as star makes Mercedes debut
Driver suggests Newey tempted by 'enticing' offer from F1 rivals
Red Bull boss Horner SHUTS DOWN F1 rival Wolff's title talk
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860