Red Bull’s 2025 line-up: A bold but questionable move – Red Bull has finalized its driver line-up for the 2025 Formula 1 season, opting to promote Liam Lawson to partner Max Verstappen. While the decision has been met with excitement, former Toro Rosso team principal Gerhard Berger believes Red Bull could have made a better choice. According to him, Carlos Sainz would have been the ideal teammate for Verstappen, given his experience, proven performance and previous association with Red Bull.
In Berger’s view, Sainz would have been the more strategic option, capable of making an immediate contribution to Red Bull’s championship ambitions. However, a series of earlier missteps by Red Bull management meant that Sainz was unavailable by the time they were ready to replace Sergio Perez.
Hamilton’s departure: Mercedes’ big announcement
The case for Carlos Sainz
After Ferrari decided to replace Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season, Sainz found himself in talks with several teams, including Red Bull. However, Red Bull had already extended Perez’s contract for 2023, closing the door on a potential return for Sainz.
With no Red Bull seat available, Sainz opted for a multi-year deal with Williams, a team that is improving but not yet a title contender.
Gerhard Berger, who has followed Sainz’s career closely, was adamant that Red Bull should have prioritised signing the Spaniard: “But I would have taken Carlos Sainz anyway.”
“Sainz’s credentials speak for themselves. He has shown the ability to get the most out of any car and has adapted well to different teams. His most notable achievement in recent years was his victory at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix – the only driver outside of Red Bull to win a race that season.”
Red Bull “power unit concern” says source
Development skills
Beyond his race-winning ability, Sainz’s development skills would have been invaluable. His experience of working with Ferrari engineers to improve their cars could have been used by Red Bull to further improve their dominant RB chassis.
Another compelling argument for Sainz is his history with Verstappen. Both drivers were teammates at Toro Rosso in 2015, where they were evenly matched.
While Verstappen was eventually promoted to the senior team and became Red Bull’s undisputed number one driver, Sainz proved he could challenge him – a dynamic that could have created an exciting rivalry within the team.
The end of an era: Big revision to Monaco GP
Sergio Perez’s struggles and Red Bull’s costly mistake
While Sergio Perez started the 2023 season strongly with two wins in the first four races, his form collapsed after the Monaco Grand Prix. He scored just nine points in the final eight races of the season as Verstappen secured his fourth world title, 63 points clear of nearest rival Lando Norris.
Perez’s decline put Red Bull in a difficult position. In mid-2023, they opted to extend his contract despite clear signs of inconsistency. The decision proved costly, as Red Bull later had to pay a reported $78 million to terminate Perez’s contract early.
Had Red Bull waited to extend Perez’s contract, they could have secured Sainz when he became available at the start of 2024. This miscalculation left them scrambling to find a replacement, which ultimately led to Lawson’s promotion.
McLaren’s HUGE gamble on 2025 F1 car design
The risks of promoting Liam Lawson
Liam Lawson is undoubtedly a talented driver, having impressed during his substitute appearances for AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) in 2023. He scored points in Singapore and often outperformed the team’s regular drivers, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo.
But joining Red Bull alongside Verstappen is a different challenge altogether. Berger believes that while Lawson has potential, it would have been wiser for him to gain more experience with the Racing Bulls before being thrown in at the deep end.
“Although I don’t think it’s a bad thing to put Lawson next to Max, it would have been better for the youngster to gain more experience with the junior team first”
Lawson’s background in the DTM adds to his credentials. In 2021, he finished second in the DTM standings with three wins from 16 races, outperforming drivers such as Alex Albon, who finished the season almost 100 points behind him.
Berger, who was involved in DTM at the time, personally recommended Lawson to Red Bull’s Helmut Marko:
“I liked Lawson in the DTM. He was faster and more aggressive than Albon, and Albon is doing well at Williams. That’s why I recommended Helmut to take a look at him.”
While Lawson’s talent is obvious, Berger’s concern is whether he is really ready for the pressure and expectations that come with a Red Bull seat.
“Bloodstained”: F1 new plans raise eyebrows
What Red Bull could have done differently
Red Bull’s handling of their driver line-up over the past two years has left them with fewer options than they should have had. A more strategic approach could have resulted in a stronger 2025 line-up.
1. Keeping Perez was a costly mistake
Extending Perez’s contract in 2023 proved to be an expensive decision, both financially and competitively. Had Red Bull waited, they could have looked at other options, including Sainz.
2. Sainz should have been the priority
Sainz’s blend of speed, experience and technical knowledge would have made him the ideal teammate for Verstappen. His proven ability to develop cars and his history with Red Bull should have made him a top target.
3. Lawson needed more time
While Lawson is a promising driver, promoting him without a full season at Racing Bulls adds unnecessary risk. An extra year in a less high-pressure environment would have allowed him to develop further before moving up to Red Bull.
McLaren again threatened with team order row
2025: A pivotal year for Lawson and Red Bull
The decision to promote Liam Lawson will be put to the test in the 2025 season. While he has the raw speed and talent, the question remains whether he can handle the immense pressure of competing alongside a dominant Verstappen at Red Bull.
Had Red Bull acted differently in 2023, they could have secured a more proven driver in Carlos Sainz. Instead, they now face the challenge of integrating a rookie into one of the most demanding seats in F1.
If Lawson thrives, Red Bull’s gamble will be justified. But if he struggles, questions will inevitably be asked as to why they did not take a safer, more experienced option – one that could have led them to even greater success.
READ MORE – Vettel F1 return open: ‘…love to drive with us’
MORE F1 NEWS – Williams boss addresses the issue of new FIA month long bans for drivers’ swearing
Franco Colapinto took Formula One by storm as Williams gave him his big break replacing Logan Sargeant with nine Grand Prix remaining last season. The Floridian was in his second year with the Grove based team and failed to earn a single point bar the one he inherited at the 2023 US Grand Prix.
Whilst Logan was the first US born driver to claim an F1 point in 30 years, he crossed the line at COTA in twelfth position. However, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified post race for a technical infringement which meant their cars had too much wear on the plank which sits underneath the car.
The width of the skid block, as its officially called, is used as a gauge by which the minimum ride height of the car is measured. Mercedes and Ferrari had set up these two cars too low in an effort to increase the downforce created by the new ground effect car designs…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Wasnt the issue for Sainz at Red Bull that Vertsappen says NO