Pressure mounts on Perez after SQ1 exit: Who could be his replacement?
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After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Red Bull will decide on the seats at Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App RB. Sergio Perez's performance during sprint qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix will only add further pressure on the management decision.
After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Red Bull's 'stakeholders' will meet to decide on 2025. With Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull has three drivers under contract for 2025 and therefore only needs to fill one seat. However, it looks increasingly likely that it will be two seats that need to be filled.
Although Perez keeps claiming that he will be active in Formula 1 in 2025, that seems more unlikely with every race weekend. The Mexican's confidence has dropped to zero, failing to get out of (S)Q1 even at circuits better suited for him like Qatar and Las Vegas.
Is Colapinto ready for Red Bull?
Not surprisingly, Red Bull is talking to Franco Colapinto. The Argentine is making a strong impression at Williams, and Red Bull has good comparison material with Alexander Albon in the other car. Colapinto has the speed, but is it enough to promote him straight to Red Bull Racing, or will an intermediate step to Visa Cash App RB follow?
James Vowles hinted at the press conference that 'those teams', referring to the Red Bull teams, should first consider which and how many seats they have available for 2025. After all, if Perez stays, it will only be a seat at Visa Cash App RB. If Perez leaves, then a seat at two teams becomes possible.
Red Bull has a luxury position where it can choose between multiple drivers, with most of them part of the Red Bull team already. Tsunoda is hoping for his chance, but was clear on Thursday about what he is hearing from Red Bull: nothing. Asked by GPblog whether he feels he is really in the mix for the seat at Red Bull Racing, the Japanese driver stated that we should better ask Marko or Horner, as he was told nothing.
A similar sound was heard from Liam Lawson. The latter does not officially have a contract for 2025 yet, but those who see him driving cannot imagine him not driving in F1 in 2025. Lawson, through more consistent performances, seems to have an edge over Tsunoda when it comes to the seat next to Verstappen, but no one seems to be certain of anything.
Who will Verstappen's teammate be?
What also complicates Colapinto's arrival is the financial picture. Red Bull has to put money on the table to get Colapinto away from Williams. That in itself need not be a problem, but on top of that comes the amount that will have to be paid to Perez if he is sacked. After all, Perez has a contract for 2025, which reportedly no longer includes the clause to get rid of him.
If Colapinto is an upgrade over Perez, it might be worth the amount to Red Bull. Especially considering Colapinto would be a good replacement for Perez with his backing. If such a sum has to be paid for a seat at VCARB, it still seems a bit too much. In that case, a promotion of F2 driver Isack Hadjar would be more obvious.
Perez pointed to Charles Leclerc after sprint qualifying, who, in his eyes, had ruined his qualifying. However, the excuses run out sometimes. With the current string of poor results on tracks pointed out as good tracks for Checo, a departure seems almost inevitable. The big question will be who Red Bull chooses to succeed him?
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy
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