The battle for the second seat at Red Bull is still ongoing, as Sergio Perez’s contract extension remains a topic of discussion. Despite a strong start to the 2024 Formula 1 season, the team is uncertain about next year. This uncertainty can be attributed to Perez’s performance in the last season, where he started well but had a significant drop in the middle. Red Bull wants to observe Perez’s performance throughout the rest of the year before making a decision about the seat for 2025. The team has emphasized that they are not under pressure to make a hasty decision, even with Audi’s involvement in the driver market for 2026.
Carlos Sainz is considered one of the top candidates for the Red Bull seat in 2025. The driver market has become a hot topic in April, which is unusual for this time of year. However, Red Bull is not getting caught up in the frenzy and will take the necessary time to make the best choice. They are aware of Audi’s attempts to influence the driver market, but find it peculiar that a newcomer is exerting so much pressure.
The focus on Sainz potentially joining Red Bull in 2025 is due to his impressive performance. Although he has not secured a seat for next year, he is being considered as one of the top candidates for Audi in 2026. However, Red Bull is not in a rush to finalize their driver lineup for 2025, despite Audi’s pressure. The German manufacturer intends to announce their driver lineup for 2026 early, possibly as soon as next year.
After Red Bull’s dominant performance in the Japanese Grand Prix, the Mercedes boss expressed his belief that the team would not face any challenges for the rest of the season. He confidently stated that Dutch driver Max Verstappen would easily secure his fourth consecutive world championship. These comments from the Mercedes boss left Helmut Marko uncomfortable, who responded during an interview. Marko acknowledged that anything can happen in Formula 1 and advised Red Bull not to become complacent, as Ferrari has shown strength this season.
Marko emphasized that there are still 20 races left on the Formula 1 calendar, leaving room for things to change at any moment. He urged his team to remain focused and not underestimate Ferrari, as they still have a lot of work to do to secure the 2024 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships.
