Speculation is mounting that Red Bull has identified Sergio Perez's replacement for next season. Perez's inconsistent performances this year stand in sharp contrast to Max Verstappen's dominant lead in the drivers' championship, fueling rumors of the Mexican driver's impending exit.
Perez secured a contract extension with Red Bull in May for two years, but due to a severe slump in his form, he was on the verge of being ousted by his team ahead of the summer break. While he managed to stay afloat for the remaining season, Formula 1 journalist Joe Saward, known for his insightful revelations on his blog, has stated in an article, titled 'Green Notebook from the Brasserie Wepler' that VCARB (RB) driver Liam Lawson is set to replace Perez next year.
Lawson performed reserve driver duties for Red Bull until the recent United States Grand Prix, which marked his 2024 debut race with Red Bull's junior team. He proved his worth last season when he stepped in for Daniel Ricciardo for 5 Grands Prix and scored points for the team. Thus, Red Bull decided to part ways with Ricciardo and bring in Lawson for the last six races of the 2024 season.
The Milton Keynes outfit is reportedly evaluating both Lawson's and Yuki Tsunoda's performances to determine who will replace Perez next year. According to Saward, Red Bull has already decided to promote Lawson to the seat alongside Max Verstappen in 2025. At the Circuit of the Americas, the Kiwi impressed by finishing 9th despite starting 19th on the grid after receiving a penalty for an additional power unit on the VCARB01 F1 car.
Speaking of Lawson's replacement, Red Bull is eyeing Williams interim driver Franco Colapinto, who replaced Logan Sargeant mid-season. The F2 driver displayed spectacular performance in his four-race stint thus far, which saw him secure 5 points. Williams has also been looking out for options where Colapinto could find a full-time opportunity since it signed Carlos Sainz for 2025 alongside current driver Alex Albon.
The last available F1 seat remains at Sauber, a team that is being taken over by Audi and will conclude the process in 2026. But with several contenders vying for the seat in high demand, VCARB could prove a safer option for Colapinto if Red Bull decides to pursue the Argentine driver. Saward stated that Colapinto is Red Bull's solution to Lawson's replacement at VCARB since Perez's chances for next year seem bleak. He wrote:
"Of late, of course Perez fans have been getting uncomfortable about the future of their hero. One can be rude about those who deliver the message but in the end the truth will out. Let us wait until the end of the year to see what happens in 2025 but Liam Lawson did a super job for VCARB in Austin and the joy the Red Bull folk seemed to me to be related to the fact that perhaps they feel they have found a solution to their problem.
"They may also have found a solution to the vacancy that a departing Lawson might create at VCARB, as Franco Colapinto is doing a great job for Williams and he has no drive in 2025, as the team is committed to Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz. The word is that Red Bull is now sniffing around Franco. Sainz and Albon are both due to stay at Williams until at least the end of 2026 and so there is no space at the moment for the Argentine driver, while Red Bull needs a strong youngster..."