Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has reportedly picked out the driver he wants to replace Max Verstappen if the world champion leaves.
Verstappen is under contract with the Bulls until 2028 but rumours have recently swirled around his future.
And according to German publication Bild, Horner has already earmarked a potential successor.
It emerged this week that Aston Martin view Verstappen as a feasible target ahead of a possible Aramco takeover.
Aston team principal Mike Krack didn’t give much away when he addressed the speculation.
Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff personally wants Verstappen to replace Lewis Hamilton.
The seven-time world champion is on his way to Ferrari for the 2025 season.
Verstappen has won the last three F1 titles with Red Bull and is the overwhelming favourite to add a fourth this year.
However, he knows that there will be a major change to the engine regulations in 2026, potentially shaking up the running order.
Christian Horner eyes Alex Albon if Max Verstappen leaves
Horner already has a replacement for Verstappen ‘in sight’ in the form of Williams driver Alex Albon.
Albon previously raced for the Bulls for 18 months in the second half of 2019 and then 2020.
The prospect of a Thai driver winning the world championship would please his fellow countrymen in the team’s hierarchy.
Red Bull promoted Albon to the top team mid-season after deciding to abandon Pierre Gasly.
But he struggled in his only full season with the Milton Keynes outfit, finishing seventh in the championship.
For reference, Verstappen placed third that year with more than double the number of points (214 vs 105) and nine more podiums (11 vs two).
Horner and co. subsequently decided to bring in Sergio Perez instead for the 2021 campaign, leaving Albon without a seat.
He returned to the grid with Williams in 2022 and has subsequently rebuilt his reputation.
Last year, he almost single-handedly hauled the team to seventh in the standings, scoring 27 of their 28 points.
Former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley says he’s done an ‘incredible’ job with James Vowles’ team.
Who else could replace Verstappen?
Albon, of course, won’t be the only driver in the running if Verstappen does make a sensational exit.
Red Bull are apparently interested in signing Oscar Piastri from McLaren in the event of the Dutchman’s departure.
Meanwhile, French journalist Fred Ferret says the Bulls will ‘100%’ go for two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
One driver who may not be interested in the vacancy is Carlos Sainz, Verstappen’s former teammate at Toro Rosso.
Sainz is out of a drive for next year after Ferrari struck a deal with Hamilton.
But Ferret thinks he’ll recognise the ‘impossible’ task of beating Verstappen in Red Bull machinery.
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