F1 Pundit Warns Red Bull Move Could Derail Young Driver's Career..

F1 Pundit Warns Red Bull Move Could Derail Young Driver’s Career…..read more

As the 2024 Formula 1 season winds down, the future of Red Bull’s second seat remains uncertain, particularly with Sergio Perez’s underperformance casting doubt over his position. The defending world champions, led by Max Verstappen, have faced a difficult season, with Verstappen enduring a rare stretch without a win until the recent Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite Verstappen’s victory in Brazil, which all but seals his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship title, Perez’s struggles continue. He is currently eighth in the standings, having only scored 48 points in his last 15 races. This poor form has raised questions about whether Red Bull should make a change to their driver lineup for 2025.

The Mexican driver’s future at Red Bull has been a topic of speculation, even though he signed a new contract with the team earlier in the year. Despite his loyalty to the team, Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, has shown increasing frustration with Perez’s lack of results. As the season draws to a close, the pressure on Perez continues to mount, and a change in drivers for 2025 could be on the cards.

Several potential candidates have emerged as possible replacements for Perez. Among those rumored to be in the frame are Red Bull juniors Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson. Both drivers have been performing admirably in the 2024 season, with Tsunoda continuing to impress at AlphaTauri, and Lawson making an impact after stepping in for Daniel Ricciardo earlier in the season. Additionally, there are growing reports linking Franco Colapinto, a rookie at Williams, with a seat at Red Bull. Colapinto has shown promise since replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams in August, but with Carlos Sainz joining the team after moving from Ferrari, the Argentine faces a fight for a seat on the grid.

Amidst all these rumors, Karun Chandhok, a former F1 driver and now a respected pundit, has warned against the idea of promoting one of the young prospects to Red Bull too soon. Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Chandhok voiced concerns about the risks involved in joining Red Bull at such an early stage in a driver’s career, especially alongside Max Verstappen, who has dominated the sport in recent years.

Chandhok emphasized that for young drivers, particularly someone like Liam Lawson or Franco Colapinto, a move to Red Bull could be disastrous. “I think it would be a mistake to put him in a Red Bull, I think it’s too early,” he said. He continued, stressing that while a future seat in an RB car could be a logical step for a young driver’s career, being placed alongside Verstappen in the current setup might prove to be overwhelming and potentially harmful to their development.

According to Chandhok, being in a high-pressure environment like Red Bull, with Verstappen’s dominance casting a long shadow, could hinder a young driver’s progress. “If they put him in a Red Bull alongside Max it could destroy him, it’ll be too soon,” he cautioned. Verstappen’s extraordinary level of performance and his established role as the team’s undisputed number one driver make it extremely difficult for a second driver to thrive under those circumstances. This pressure could have long-lasting negative effects on a young driver’s confidence and career trajectory.

Chandhok’s advice is for Red Bull to avoid rushing a driver into such a high-stakes situation, suggesting that they should consider alternative options. The best course of action, in his view, would be for Perez to improve and continue in his role at Red Bull, maintaining the current driver lineup for 2025. However, if Perez’s form does not improve, it may become necessary for the team to make a change. In that case, the team could promote either Lawson or Tsunoda, both of whom have already demonstrated their abilities in Formula 1, without the added risk that a completely new driver like Colapinto might face in such a demanding environment.

The situation with Perez and Red Bull’s potential driver lineup for 2025 remains fluid, and it’s clear that the team will need to make a crucial decision in the coming months. While Verstappen’s dominance continues to shape the team’s dynamic, Red Bull will need to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of introducing a new driver into their setup, particularly given the pressure that will come with trying to match Verstappen’s performances.

For now, the Red Bull second seat remains one of the most talked-about positions in F1, and the speculation will only intensify as the 2024 season concludes.