Is this driver an option for Red Bull? 'Next to Max could be a problem'

Like a year ago, Sergio Perez will not have ended the Miami Grand Prix with a pleasant feeling. Only fourth came the Mexican, again well behind Max Verstappen - who finished second behind winner Lando Norris. At a time when the European part of the F1 calendar is about to begin, and when knots are usually made in terms of contracts for the coming season, Perez would have done himself a favour by finishing third in any case.

Yet for now, Perez remains the most distinguished candidate to also drive alongside Verstappen at Red Bull Racing in 2025. Christijan Albers, former F1 driver and briefly team principal, also sees few alternatives available, he revealed in the De Telegraaf's podcast. Thus, the Dutchman discussed Alex Albon, who is regularly mentioned as a potential driver for Red Bull Racing.

This does not seem like a good choice, according to Albers, especially now that Albon's Williams team are not making much of an impression in 2024: "It's a lot of noise. It's all James [Vowles, team principal], it's going to be all right. But it's not going to be fine," believes the former driver, who then elaborates on Albon's situation: "His manager talks a lot and hopes for a place at Red Bull [for Albon] in 2026, with that Thai owner. He's really going to get there then! If he comes alongside Max, he really has a problem."

According to Albers, a Gasly scenario would ensue if Albon becomes Verstappen's teammate: "You've seen it before, when Albon sat next to Max, how much trouble that caused," stated Albers, who also does not want to see Carlos Sainz next to the world champion. "Those two, that will be a fight. Because Sainz's old one, that guy you don't want to have there. In Miami, Sainz was back to his old ways: he slumped again during the race. It could also be that Sainz was just doing his job and Leclerc was just off for a while the last few races," Albers nuanced Sainz's upturn in the first few months.