There’s “big interest” in Red Bull’s 2025 seat as Red Bull boss Christian Horner admits already many approaches and discussions have been made as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez from the 2025 season, including some from outside the Red Bull fold.
Sergio Perez’s contract with Red Bull expires at the end of the 2024 season, and speculation about the Mexican’s future with the team has been rife for some time now, not least because Max Verstappen’s team-mate is 125 points behind the Dutchman in the drivers’ championship after the first twelve races of the year.
Horner: Ricciardo or Perez aren’t the only options
Former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo recently made his return to the grid as a regular driver, and the Australian has already announced his interest in the Red Bull seat currently occupied by Sergio Perez. But Perez and Ricciardo are not the only options available to Red Bull for 2025, according to Horner.
“That’s the position we’re in, and it’s great to have a lot of interest,” Christian Horner told Sky Sports.
“But it’s not just about those drivers [Perez and Ricciardo], it’s also about drivers outside our spectrum in terms of 2025.”
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Perez still doing enough, for now
However, despite the interest from a number of drivers, Christian Horner was once again keen to point out that Sergio Perez is under contract until the end of the 2024 campaign and that until then the Mexican remains a valuable part of the team.
“Checo is extremely popular in the team. Let’s not forget what he did in 2021 [helping Verstappen to the championship],” added Horner.
“There’s also his contribution to the constructors’ championship last year, and he’s second in the world championship this year. He is the only other driver [than Verstappen] to have won a race this year with the two Grands Prix he has won.”
“Our absolute aim is to get Checo firing on all cylinders on Saturday [qualifying being his weak point, ed], and I’m sure he’ll do that. So nobody has written Checo off…”
With ten races still to go this season, Sergio Perez is 125 points behind Max Verstappen ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
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