Rumours of a bombshell defection for Oscar Piastri away from McLaren to bitter rivals Red Bull continue to bubble away, despite the bayside Melbourne product saying in the build-up to the Mexico Grand Prix “as far as I’m aware, there’s no truth to it”.

Eyebrows were raised throughout the sport last week when Red Bull kingmaker Helmut Marko told F1 Insider that nine-time grand prix winner Mark Webber, now Piastri’s manager, was “intensively seeking conversation” with Red Bull about his client making the move across from McLaren.

Piastri, 23, is in just his second season in the motorsport’s top flight and put Formula 1 on notice this year with his stunning drives to win in Hungary and Azerbaijan.

His win in Baku on the shores of the Caspian Sea last month came from a brilliant overtake of in-form Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, whom he then kept at bay for more than 30 laps.

So it’s little wonder Piastri is a driver in high demand.

And according to 81-year-old Red Bull supremo Marko, it was Piastri’s camp that was looking to initiate discussion about a switch.

Oscar Piastri of........

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