MAJOR Red Bull update emerges on 2025 driver lineup....

MAJOR Red Bull update emerges on 2025 driver lineup…read more

A significant update has emerged regarding Red Bull’s driver lineup for the 2025 Formula 1 season, with uncertainty surrounding the future of Sergio Perez. Despite his long-standing role as Max Verstappen’s teammate, there are growing reports suggesting that Perez could be replaced ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Perez, who has been under increasing scrutiny for his performances in the 2024 season, has not managed to secure a podium finish since the Chinese Grand Prix in April. His inability to consistently challenge for top finishes has led to speculation about his future with the Milton Keynes-based team. Red Bull has yet to make an official decision, but the pressure on the Mexican driver is mounting as the team looks to maintain its dominance in Formula 1.

The search for a potential replacement for Perez has seen several names linked to the seat, with one of the most notable being Williams driver Franco Colapinto. However, recent developments suggest that Colapinto’s chances of joining Red Bull in 2025 have significantly diminished. According to reports from Motorsport.com, Colapinto’s future with the team was effectively ended after he suffered a heavy crash during qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Argentine driver experienced a terrifying 50G impact during the incident, and Red Bull is now reportedly no longer considering him as a candidate for the seat alongside Verstappen.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s chief advisor, was quoted as saying that Colapinto is “not very high on the list” when it comes to Perez’s potential replacement. This comment dealt a significant blow to Colapinto’s chances of making the jump to the premier team in Formula 1, especially given the potential impact of his recent accidents. The 19-year-old has had a string of crashes throughout the 2024 season, including a mishap in the wet conditions at Interlagos, a crash during qualifying in Las Vegas, and being involved in a collision with Esteban Ocon at the Qatar Grand Prix. While Colapinto had previously impressed in his rookie season at Williams, these recent incidents have raised concerns about his ability to handle the pressure at a team like Red Bull.

Beyond Colapinto, Red Bull’s lineup for 2025 is expected to be closely tied to Perez’s performance in the remainder of the 2024 season. Despite Verstappen dominating the championship and securing the drivers’ title with relative ease, Red Bull’s constructors’ championship hopes have been affected by Perez’s struggles. His consistent exits from Q1 in qualifying and his inability to regularly finish in the points have caused Red Bull to slip to third in the constructors’ standings, behind both Mercedes and Ferrari. This further intensifies the pressure on Perez, as Red Bull is keen to maintain its strong position at the top of both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

If Perez is indeed dropped from the team, one driver who has emerged as a strong contender for the second Red Bull seat is Kiwi racer Liam Lawson. Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo after the Singapore Grand Prix, has delivered more consistent performances than his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, at AlphaTauri. While Lawson has not yet been able to surpass Tsunoda in terms of raw pace, his ability to adapt quickly to the Formula 1 environment and consistently score points has impressed many within the team. Given his strong showing in recent races, Lawson appears to be Red Bull’s most likely choice if they decide to replace Perez.

In summary, the uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s driver lineup for 2025 is intensifying, with Sergio Perez’s position under threat due to his underwhelming performances in 2024. The team has reportedly ruled out Franco Colapinto as a viable replacement following a series of crashes, and while Perez’s future is still up in the air, Liam Lawson is now seen as the frontrunner to partner Max Verstappen in the upcoming season. The next few months are likely to be critical in determining whether Perez can turn his form around or if Red Bull will make a change ahead of 2025.