Red Bull Racing’s senior advisor, Helmut Marko, has made it clear that he envisions one of the Red Bull junior drivers partnering with Max Verstappen in 2025. Although he has not revealed a specific name yet, it appears Sergio Pérez’s position is far from secure, even though team principal Christian Horner has expressed efforts to get Pérez back to peak performance.
With Daniel Ricciardo stepping away from Formula 1 again and Liam Lawson taking over his seat, the young New Zealander has an opportunity to audition over six race weekends. This trial period will be crucial in determining if Lawson secures a spot for 2025. Horner recently commented in the F1 Nation podcast that this is Lawson’s chance to showcase his potential, with the future of the 2025 driver lineup still open. Lawson not only has the chance to sign a contract with Red Bull Racing but could also be considered as a partner for Verstappen, especially with Pérez’s future shrouded in uncertainty.
Pérez has been struggling to deliver the expected results for quite some time now. Horner mentioned that the best-case scenario would be for Pérez to regain the form he had at the beginning of the season. However, Marko seems more inclined to see a younger talent alongside Verstappen in 2025. “Tsunoda is a candidate to drive next to Max in 2025,” Marko told F1-Insider.com. He added that the performance of Red Bull drivers in the remaining races this season would be crucial in shaping the team’s lineup for next year.
At 81, Marko’s statement emphasizes that nothing is set in stone for Red Bull’s 2025 season, and there are still several seats up for grabs