Alleged FIA interference keeps Perez at Red Bull – In a surprising turn of events, Sergio Perez will continue as Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing. The development comes after initial reports and internal expectations suggested Perez would be sacked after the Belgian Grand Prix.
The unexpected decision to retain Perez has left many in the Formula One community speculating as to the reasons behind it, with some pointing to alleged interference from the FIA and Formula One rights holders Liberty Media.
Sergio Perez remains Max Verstappen’s teammate
Shortly before the Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner and Red Bull Chief Advisor Helmut Marko gave clear indications that Perez would be replaced.
Both Horner and Marko informed the Verstappen family that Perez would be leaving and that Max Verstappen would have a new teammate for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Red Bull’s home race. The decision came after another disappointing performance from Perez at Spa, which was seen by many as his last chance to prove his worth.
However, Red Bull’s decision-makers shocked the F1 community, including the Verstappen family, with a complete U-turn on Monday night. After an extensive meeting at the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes involving Horner, Marko and other key figures, it was decided that Perez would remain with the team.
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The big reshuffle that wasn’t
The big Red Bull reshuffle has been called off. Not only will Perez finish the season with Red Bull, but Daniel Ricciardo will also continue with the Racing Bulls junior team. Despite initial opposition from Marko, who felt Ricciardo’s age was incompatible with the junior team’s focus on developing young talent, Horner’s support for Ricciardo has prevailed.
Approached for comment in Jerez, where he was attending a driver scouting event, Marko confirmed: “Perez is staying. We want to get him back to his old form. Ricciardo is staying too. Nothing will change.”
Mexico GP salvation & FIA interference
According to German motorsport website F1-Insider, Formula One rights holders Liberty Media reportedly influenced Red Bull’s decision to keep Perez. They were concerned about a significant drop in revenue at the Mexican Grand Prix in October without the presence of national hero Perez. Nevertheless, Marko hinted at future changes, stating: “The cards will be reshuffled for 2025.” suggesting that in reality, the current favourite (Daniel Ricciardo) remains just that.
This postpones the reshuffle until the end of the year, leaving Perez’s future after 2024 uncertain. Perez could stay or be replaced depending on his performance and Red Bull’s strategic decisions for next season.
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Ricciardo remains favourite for 2025 despite alleged FIA interference
Despite the alleged influence of the FIA and Liberty Media in Red Bull’s decision to retain Perez, Daniel Ricciardo remains the favourite to replace him in 2025. Ricciardo’s experience and relationship with the team gives him the edge, not to mention his close bond with team boss Christian Horner. If he performs well in the upcoming tests and races, he could consolidate his position as the front-runner for the seat next to Verstappen.
Ricciardo, 35, is 13th in this year’s F1 Drivers’ Championship after 14 races, including three top-10 finishes. His consistent performance and wealth of experience make him a strong contender for the Red Bull seat. Should Ricciardo significantly outperform Lawson, he could become the frontrunner to replace Perez in 2025.
Conversely, Lawson, who made a strong impression in his debut race at Zandvoort last year as a replacement for an injured Ricciardo, will have to prove himself again to secure a regular seat next season.
F1 testing shootout planned for Ricciardo and lawson
Lawson in limbo
New Zealander Liam Lawson is unlikely to get a Formula One drive this season after Red Bull Racing decided against making any personnel changes. Speculation had been rife that Red Bull management had used the mid-season break in the championship to consider the status of their top driver Sergio Perez and also the merits of their veteran second driver Daniel Ricciardo.
According to several motorsport media reports, Ricciardo will remain behind the wheel with the Visa Cash App RB for the remainder of 2024, while Perez will remain with Red Bull Racing.
A demotion for either driver could have resulted in a promotion for Lawson, who is a Red Bull reserve driver. Lawson, 22, made five F1 starts last year when Australian Ricciardo was sidelined for two months with an injury.
Horner given ultimatum by Lawson
Liam Lawson has told Red Bull and Christian Horner to find him a Formula One seat or he will seek an opportunity elsewhere. The highly-rated star was reportedly frustrated after being snubbed for a seat at RB last season in favour of Daniel Ricciardo.
Lawson has competed in just five Grands Prix and scored 2 points. He achieved this by finishing in ninth place at the Singapore Grand Prix. This was a significant accomplishment for the young New Zealander, as it marked his maiden points finish in Formula 1. However, the 22-year-old has been overlooked by Red Bull for a permanent seat, either alongside Max Verstappen or at sister team RB.
Asked about his future by talkSPORT in June, Lawson said: “I have no idea – everything is changing at the moment. There are a lot of drivers moving around. I don’t really know where I fit in at the moment, or if I fit in at all. It’s something I’m working towards every day at the moment.
“I would love to be in F1 with Red Bull. They are the strongest team at the moment. I’ve been with them for six years now. If I could choose, I would love to be with Red Bull. But of course, if there’s no place there, my goal is F1. So that could be anywhere.
“It’s talked about a lot, it’s managed. I’m always trying to work to find out where I sit in the team for my future. I don’t want to be in F1 because someone is injured. I want to be in F1 because a team chooses me to be there full time.”
Lawson’s fight for a seat
Red Bull want to guarantee Lawson a place in F1 next year, but it is looking further like that it won’t be in one of their four cars. His commendable debut, filling in for Ricciardo after he injured his hand in practice, showed his potential. However, he was forced to give up his seat when Ricciardo recovered. Since then, Lawson has been waiting for another opportunity to cement his position.
Lawson’s current predicament highlights the competitive and often unpredictable nature of securing a seat in Formula One. While his talent is undeniable, the politics and business interests of the sport often overshadow pure merit. The young New Zealander must navigate these challenges while continuing to prove his worth on and off the track.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Perez, Ricciardo and Lawson as they battle to prove their worth and secure their futures in the fiercely competitive world of Formula One. The next few races will be crucial in determining who will partner Max Verstappen and who will take the coveted seats within the Red Bull organisation. The dynamics within the team and the pressure from external stakeholders will undoubtedly shape the decisions made over the coming months.
The role of external influences in F1 decisions
The alleged involvement of Liberty Media in Red Bull’s decision-making process underlines the significant influence that external entities can have in Formula One. As the sport is a major commercial enterprise, decisions are often driven by financial considerations and market dynamics.
The Mexican Grand Prix, for example, is a major event on the F1 calendar and the presence of a national hero such as Sergio Perez can significantly boost attendance and viewership, which in turn affects overall revenues.
This scenario demonstrates how business interests and sporting integrity can sometimes be at odds. While the focus should ideally be on performance and merit, the reality is that financial and commercial factors play a crucial role in shaping the grid. The involvement of the FIA and Liberty Media in Perez’s retention, if true, is a testament to this complex interplay.
Looking ahead to 2025
As the dust settles on this year’s decisions, the focus will inevitably shift to the 2025 season. Red Bull’s strategy and the performances of Perez, Ricciardo and Lawson will be closely watched. Perez will need to deliver consistently strong performances to justify his retention, while Ricciardo will be looking to use his experience and skill to secure a top seat. Meanwhile, Lawson must continue to show his potential and seize every opportunity that comes his way.
The F1 landscape is constantly evolving and the only certainty is change. For now, the immediate future of Red Bull’s driver line-up is settled, but the long-term picture remains fluid.
READ MORE: Wolff all but confirms Antonelli for 2025
Allegations Disney leant on Red Bull over ditching Pere
Something remarkable happened in Formula One land this week and the timing of the event meant no one is available for comment for the next three weeks. It was announced at the Milton Keynes debrief to the entire workforce that Red Bull Racing would be retaining Sergio Perez.
In some ways even more remarkable was the announcement that Daniel Ricciardo would also remain in the V-CARB car, while Liam Lawson is again kept waiting. Dr. Helmut Marko has been ramping up the pressure on the Aussie in recent weeks claiming the Red Bull parent company shareholders want the team to return to blooding young drivers for F1 – code for Daniel Ricciardo has to go.
The 81 year old Austrian was explicit in his views of Ricciardo’s future in Austria when he told Kleine Zeitung prior to the Austrian GP: “The shareholders have made it clear that this is a junior team and we have to operate accordingly”… READ MORE
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Come on LIAM LAWSON get out now ,,stop being treated like S..T by R BULL AND RB VISA you are too good to be treated like a pupet,,get out if you can ,you are better than RICCIARDO, good luck,.GEORGE.. NEW ZEALAND.
Neither LM nor FIA had influence & never have on any driver matters any more than any other areas outside their responsibility, so the F1-Insider claim is definitely unfounded.
Only the relevant parties, i.e., teams or Red Bull organization concerning both Red Bull-owned teams decide who drives in the teams & when rather than any third parties.
However, next season is indeed another matter, although with Lawson, if he doesn’t get a drive by the next season-opener he’ll become a free agent with the deadline in September, so Red Bull needs to be careful if they don’t want to lose him altogether.
Not sure how this article can refer to sporting integrity when Yuki is not in the frame. It feels like only Anglo-Saxons are in the running despite performance and results.
Unfortunately for Yuki, he isn’t going to get considered. Probably because Max doesn’t want a hot-head for a partner. He has driven excellently this year, but that isn’t the only consideration.
LIAM LAWSON,,its time you left THE BULL RING, your too good.
RB are BS, just a joke
In which races did Liam Lawson get his “40 career points”? He raced 5 times last year and got 2 points!
Basic facts being wrong put the rest of the article in doubt.
The Dutch Gran Prix is not red bulls home Gran Prix….. Maybe, just maybe the Red Bull Ring in Austria is their home Gran Prix…