Sergio Perez looks set to have to leave the Red Bull team after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, while Franco Colapinto is no longer in contention to replace him.
After weeks of speculation, Colapinto has finally been turned down by Red Bull for a seat at either of their two teams, as the Milton Keynes outfit considers changes for 2025 that will also impact RB F1.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has suggested that Sergio Perez must now “himself draw conclusions from his own performances” while the planned meeting with shareholders will take place next Monday, just after the last Grand Prix.
If the shareholders validate Perez's departure, even if it means leaving tens of millions of euros in compensation (the Mexican will not withdraw on his own as he has so much money to take in the process), Max's teammate Verstappen will be either Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda.
Horner is already closing the door on Colapinto, the Argentinian, Williams being far too greedy.
“He is undoubtedly a talent looking to earn his permanent place in Formula 1. And Williams is right not to let him leave without good compensation.”
“We have a great talent pool within the Red Bull junior team, and I am sure that Franco will find his place on the grid in the future. We always keep an eye on what the market offers in all teams , but we have strength and depth in the junior program.”
Lawson seems to be favored by Dr Marko but, in recent times, the Japanese has stood out with very good performances, better than those of the New Zealander. Despite a few more blunders, he seems to be a more solid candidate, even if it means swapping seats during 2025 between Tsunoda and Lawson.
“Liam and Yuki were very close in this race [au Qatar]in terms of pace, so we have a strong team of drivers.”
When asked who is ready to take on four-time world champion Max Verstappen, Horner replied: “That's THE very good question! Being Max's teammate is probably the hardest job in Formula 1, but that applies to any driver on the grid, I believe.”
This therefore leaves a seat to be filled at RB F1, which will be renamed Racing Bulls for good in 2025, and quite logically this would be allocated to the Frenchman Isack Hadjar.
Horner set the stage there too by praising the Red Bull junior.
“It was good to see Isack Hadjar do a good job this weekend in Formula 2.”
“There is a half-point gap between the drivers before the last race in Abu Dhabi.”
