As the 2025 Formula One season approaches, Red Bull Racing is facing a crucial decision: the choice of teammate for Max Verstappen. While it looks increasingly unlikely that Sergio Pérez will retain his seat, both Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto have emerged as frontrunners to join the Dutch champion.
Recently, Jos Verstappen, Max’s father and former F1 driver, shared his own thoughts on who should take the coveted seat alongside his son.
Red Bull’s roster dilemma
Red Bull Racing have yet to make an official statement regarding Pérez’s future, nor have they confirmed any final changes to their line-up. However, speculation is mounting that the team’s delay in confirming Pérez’s departure is linked to ongoing deliberations over his replacement.
With both Lawson and Colapinto on Red Bull’s shortlist, Jos Verstappen has openly advocated a promotion from within the team, with Lawson a strong candidate.
Speaking to Viaplay during the Brazilian Grand Prix, Jos Verstappen expressed his preference for the young New Zealander, highlighting Lawson’s achievements to date and his willingness to move up the ladder.
“I think Lawson is doing very well. It seems logical to me that he is ready for the step up. Let him finish the season and gain confidence. After that, the team has to decide what they want to do next year,” said Verstappen, underlining his belief in nurturing talent within Red Bull’s own ranks.
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Verstappen-Lawson pairing: Jos Verstappen “not against it”
When asked directly about a potential Max Verstappen-Liam Lawson driver pairing, Jos Verstappen was positive.
“I’m certainly not against it,” he said.
“It’s better to have someone driving who is competitive and pushes Max forward a bit. It always helps.” Jos’s comments seems to underline the importance he places on having a strong, competitive teammate to keep Max at the top of his game. Something that has certainly not been the case for some time now, arguably since Daniel Ricciardo was in the team.
This statement reflects a wider sentiment within Red Bull, where there is reportedly a split over who should secure the seat for 2025.
Wolff had the chance to persuade Hamilton to stay
Marko vs. Horner: Colapinto enters the debate
Although Lawson appears to have significant internal support, particularly from advisor Helmut Marko, the choice is far from straightforward. Marko, known for championing young talent from Red Bull’s development programmes, is reportedly keen to promote Lawson.
However, team principal Christian Horner is rumoured to favour Franco Colapinto.
Colapinto, a promising driver with notable performances in Formula 3, represents an outside option for Red Bull, but one that fits with Horner’s preference for bringing fresh perspectives to the team. Horner’s interest in Colapinto suggests a willingness to take risks on emerging talent outside the immediate Red Bull ecosystem.
Pérez to stay with Red Bull?
In a reversal of this long running narrative which suggests Sergio Perez will ultimately leave Red Bull, if only at the end of the season, now Spanish media outlet Marca leads with the headline: “Sergio Perez to remain at Red Bull in 2025 with a new lucrative deal.”
The recent F1 Nestlé deal, a big sponsor of the Mexican, seems to suggest that Checo will remain in Formula 1 next year.
Critically the news outlet reports Perez has been given the green light by Red Bull to develop his clothing and merchandising products for next year. “It is a kind of agreement that precedes a production process and has received all the approvals from the economic team, after approval by [Christian] Horner.”
Perez’s new sponsor is not mentioned by Marca, although he is one of the biggest attractions for finance currently sitting on the F1 grid. Current partnerships with Claro, Telcel and Infinitium all take care of Perez’s $10m a year salary and contribute some $30m into the coffers of Red Bull Racing.
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Pérez’s future: Retirement or ambassadorial role?
That said, with speculation swirling around Lawson and Colapinto, Pérez’s future looks increasingly uncertain. Sources close to Red Bull suggest that the Mexican, who has endured a turbulent season, may already have been offered an ambassadorial role as a way of gracefully exiting F1, at least as a driver.
While an official decision has yet to be announced, Pérez’s potential departure would mark a significant shift in the dynamics of Red Bull’s line-up.
The offer of an ambassadorial role would allow Pérez to remain connected to the sport without the demands of the grid, reflecting Red Bull’s commitment to honouring his contributions over the years.
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Internal conflict and decision pending
The differing views within Red Bull’s leadership underline the complexity of the decision. Lawson’s internal support, backed by Marko and Jos Verstappen, presents a compelling case for a team-mate who can maintain Red Bull’s competitive edge while challenging Verstappen.
At the same time, Horner’s interest in Colapinto signals a willingness to consider alternatives that could bring a new dynamic to the team.
For now, the waiting game continues.
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