Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s Motorsport Consultant, confirmed that discussions are underway between Red Bull and Carlos Sainz regarding the possibility of him partnering with Max Verstappen in 2025. Sainz, who is currently available on the market for next season after Ferrari’s decision to hire Lewis Hamilton, has been linked to a possible seat at Mercedes alongside George Russell. On the other hand, Red Bull is considering their options for Verstappen’s teammate. Speculation was fueled by Sainz’s recent meeting with Marko in the Suzuka paddock. Marko has now revealed that talks with Sainz have progressed, although he also mentioned that Sainz has received a lucrative offer from Audi, who is set to take over the Sauber team. According to Marko, Red Bull cannot match or surpass Audi’s proposal.
Perez remains the favorite for the second seat at Red Bull, as the Mexican is having his most successful season since joining the team in 2021.
While discussions with Sainz have been discussed, Marko has determined that Perez is the top choice for the 2025 season, as long as his current level of performance is maintained.
Marko stated: “It is clear that Checo is having his best season with us. If he can maintain these impressive performances, especially in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, then he is undoubtedly the ideal candidate for Red Bull in 2025. He has become a team player and realized that his radical approach to car setup last year was wrong. Now, his setup is much more aligned with Max’s.”
Marko’s statements about Perez and Sainz will disappoint Daniel Ricciardo, who had hoped to return to Red Bull but has faced difficulties since his return to Formula 1.
The position of Ricciardo within the Red Bull sister team, RB, may be in jeopardy with Liam Lawson waiting for a full-time seat. The New Zealand driver impressed when he replaced Ricciardo in five races after the Australian suffered a hand injury in a practice accident at Zandvoort.
“We have a strong driver in Liam Lawson as our reserve driver, and he is free to race for another team in 2025 if he doesn’t secure a place with us,” explained Marko. “It would certainly be exciting for us to see him in Formula 1 this year to have a clearer understanding of his capabilities. However, this is a complex matter, and we must wait and see how things unfold.”
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