Red Bull star issued UNDESERVING claim as Perez replacement verdict given…More
Red Bull star issued UNDESERVING claim as Perez replacement verdict given
Former Formula 1 insider Marc Priestley has voiced skepticism over Red Bull’s decision to replace Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s teammate for 2025.
Perez, who recently announced a sabbatical from F1, leaves after a disappointing 2024 season where he finished 285 points behind Verstappen and failed to secure a podium since April’s Chinese Grand Prix.
Red Bull, once dominant, fell to third in the Constructors’ Championship behind McLaren and Ferrari, a gap largely attributed to Perez’s underwhelming performance.
Lawson, a 22-year-old Kiwi, was chosen over Yuki Tsunoda for the seat despite having just 11 F1 races under his belt compared to Tsunoda’s four full seasons.
The Red Bull hierarchy sees Lawson as having more potential, but Priestley believes neither driver has shown enough to warrant the promotion.
He pointed out that Red Bull’s junior program is designed to produce standout talents like Verstappen or Sebastian Vettel, but no current driver fits that mold.
Priestley suggested the decision to retain Perez for so long was unusual given Red Bull’s typically swift action on underperformance.
He speculated that internal complexities delayed the move and questioned the timing of Lawson’s promotion, especially with Verstappen potentially considering other opportunities in 2026.
“Lawson’s selection as a second driver may be short-sighted,” Priestley remarked, emphasizing that Verstappen’s dominance has overshadowed other Red Bull drivers.
He recalled Verstappen’s arrival in F1, which immediately captivated fans, a quality he feels neither Tsunoda nor Lawson has demonstrated.
Ultimately, Priestley acknowledged that Perez’s struggles paved the way for Lawson but argued that Red Bull’s lack of a clear standout successor highlighted a broader issue within their talent pipeline.
He noted that while the choice will inevitably seem unfair to the driver overlooked, Lawson’s selection reflects Red Bull’s urgency to address performance gaps rather than a belief in his readiness for the challenge.
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