Red Bull Racing's driver line-up for 2025 is starting to take definitive shape, with speculation growing about changes within the team.
Sergio Perez, despite insisting otherwise, appears set to lose his spot alongside Max Verstappen. Reports from Mexican outlets ESPN and Fox Sports claim "sources" have revealed that the team may offer the 34-year-old the option to publicly 'retire' rather than face outright dismissal.
There is also talk of an alternative proposal, with Perez being offered a choice: step down voluntarily and stay on as an ambassador and reserve driver, or accept a termination fee and leave the team entirely.
"We all have a lot of respect and appreciation for Checo, but right now it's a tough situation for him and for the team," said team principal Christian Horner.
"Nobody is forcing him to do anything, but it's certainly not a comfortable situation for him. What happens next is all hypothetical, but we'll see where we are after Abu Dhabi."
As for who will take Perez's seat, Red Bull team advisor Dr Helmut Marko dismissed rumours that Franco Colapinto is under consideration.
"We are going to choose from our own pool of drivers," Marko clarified.
The leading candidates for the seat are current RB drivers Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson, 22, appears to be the frontrunner, while Tsunoda's chances are affected by concerns over his inconsistency and his Honda backing, with the engine supplier set to move to Aston Martin in 2026.
Marko expressed his preference for Lawson, saying, "Lawson reminds me of Bruce McLaren or Denny Hulme - down-to-earth and mentally strong. Yuki is extremely fast, but not consistent. And he is rather undisciplined for a Japanese, although that has improved."
Red Bull CEO Peter Bayer echoed those sentiments, noting that while Tsunoda possesses "incredible basic speed," his performance fluctuates more than Lawson's.
"Liam is very analytical," Bayer said. "He is very calm on the radio and spends a lot of time looking at the data and implementing it with the engineers.
"Yuki has made a huge step since last year, both physically and mentally. You can see that he is on his way to the peak of his abilities. I definitely think he is ready (for Red Bull Racing). Sometimes it might still be difficult for him to control his emotions, but I think it's his last little mistake."
Whether the team chooses Lawson or Tsunoda, it appears clear that RB's soon-to-be-vacant seat will go to French-Algerian rookie Isack Hadjar.
"Obviously, I'm next on the list. It's just a fact," the 20-year-old said.
When asked if he could confirm his promotion to Formula 1 for 2025, Hadjar replied, "I mean, it's obviously not confirmed. So of course I can't say anything.
"I can't tell you what I'm doing next year because it's not official yet."
