F1 pundit reveals Red Bull 'conundrum' is BACK

Christian Horner, Max Verstappen y Sergio Perez en Belgica — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Speculation

F1 pundit reveals Red Bull 'conundrum' is BACK

Red Bull's 2025 driver line-up remains a puzzle according to a F1 pundit.

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Thursday 23 May 2024 19:57

As the 2025 grid starts to take shape Red Bull are no closer to revealing their driver line-up for next year.

The 2025 driver market was thrown wide open when Lewis Hamilton announced he would be moving to Ferrari next season, replacing current driver Carlos Sainz.

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Since losing his seat the Spanish driver has displayed incredible form, demonstrating his worth to prospective teams by achieving a race win at the Australian Grand Prix.

Sainz’s next destination is unknown, with reports speculating he could join either Mercedes, Red Bull or Sauber/Audi.

Carlos Sainz has been linked to various F1 teams

Who will be Verstappen’s team-mate in 2025?

If Sainz was to join Red Bull next season, it would mean their current driver Sergio Perez, who is out of contract next season, would have to vacate his seat.

The Mexican driver’s form has fluctuated at Red Bull, often struggling to match the pace of his team-mate Max Verstappen.

Imola exemplified Perez’s inconsistent performances in his career, finishing eighth behind the Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

In a Monaco Grand Prix Q&A for the BBC, F1 pundit Andrew Benson discussed Red Bull’s driver ‘conundrum’ and who could claim the coveted seat.

“Perez started the season well - he was second behind Verstappen in three of the first four races. But he failed to capitalise in Australia when Verstappen retired, and has had difficult weekends in Miami and Imola,” Benson wrote.

Has Sergio Perez done enough to secure a contract for 2025?

“The problem for Red Bull is what they do about it. Do they keep Perez next season, knowing now what his performance level is? Can they afford to if, as seems to be happening, the field is closing up?

“But if they decide not to, who do they take instead? Out of the top drivers, the only free agent is Carlos Sainz, who is leaving Ferrari at the end of this season to make way for Lewis Hamilton. “But there was tension when he was team-mates with Verstappen at Toro Rosso when they were both rookies in 2015.

“It’s an interesting conundrum for Red Bull.”

Red Bull Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes Carlos Sainz Sauber/Audi