Perez remains in denial over 'last race weekend' for Red Bull Racing

After Qatar, it was already clear that the end was near for Sergio Perez. Christian Horner spoke about his driver in past tense, stating that he was waiting for Perez to draw his own conclusions. A friendly request for Perez to step aside himself to make way for a new driver alongside Max Verstappen.

According to various reports, it would be an ambassador role for Sergio Perez. In doing so, Perez would follow in the footsteps of Daniel Ricciardo and David Coulthard. Perez has a huge following in Mexico and Latin America, which Red Bull could use for another year. The big question is whether Perez himself wants this.

While Red Bull hopes Perez will draw his own conclusions and take on this new role, there is also a scenario in which Perez does not accept this. If so, money will have to be put on the table to buy out Perez's existing contract. Whichever scenario will unfold, the outcome is likely to be the same: Perez will not drive for Red Bull Racing in 2025.

Who will be Verstappen's new teammate?

The decision will officially fall after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Then the team will sit down with Perez and Red Bull shareholders will meet. Then a decision will be made on the driver line-up for 2025. Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda are fixed, with the other two spots yet to be filled.

Liam Lawson walks around the Formula 1 paddock in Abu Dhabi with the biggest smile, but no one seems sure where he stands. Lawson is said to be preferred because he is calmer than Yuki Tsunoda, but the Japanese is also still in the running for the seat. What more than what he has done in recent years can he do to get that seat?

What remains is the seat at Visa Cash App RB. If Tsunoda or Lawson is promoted, a spot there will become vacant for another driver. When asked by GPblog, Isack Hadjar already hinted in Qatar that he knows what he will do in 2025. This year he already has a reserve role with the Red Bull teams, in 2025 it might be a permanent seat at VCARB.

With Hadjar being promoted, Red Bull would also promote another talent from its own Red Bull Junior Team. It succeeded with Lawson, but before that there was no internal prmotion for a long time. Hadjar is still fighting for the F2 title and seems the driver most ready to make the next step. Hadjar's only drawback is his aggressive board radio behaviour. That behaviour over board radio can improve, as Tsunoda has proved in recent years.

In the background, there is also still the possibility of Franco Colapinto coming to Red Bull, but that chance seems to be getting smaller and smaller with the Argentinian's recent performances. With the lesser performances and crashes in recent weeks, the preference would rather be a talent from the own Red Bull Junior Team.