The leaderboard is getting crowded after Mercedes won consecutive races. Earlier, it was McLaren, Ferrari, and now Mercedes. The battle for the top spot is now a fatal four-way match. Thus, Red Bull needs to gear up if they want to defend their world title. However, since Sergio Perez’s retention, his performance has been management’s nightmare. The experienced Mexican has failed to leave any impact, as the team’s all hopes hinge on Max Verstappen.
Thus, Checo’s slump might motivate the RBR squad to look for a replacement. Although the team has plenty of options like Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson, Horner has continued with Perez. However, if he continues to disappoint, then an early exit won’t be far. Former F1 driver Martin Brundle explained the entire scenario, voting out Carlos Sainz as an RBR option.
“Verstappen just breaks their head,” Brundle Explains Why Red Bull Can’t Consider A Young Driver A Perez’s Replacement
Carlos Sainz, the Spanish driver and one of the most talented racers without a seat for 2025, might not get a seat in Red Bull. During the latest Sky F1 podcast episode, Martin Brundle explained the entire situation and picked his favorite for the second seat. Brundle reflected on the challenges of racing alongside Verstappen, as he is ‘absurdly fast.’ Thus, he feels it won’t be easy for a young driver, as Verstappen would ‘break their heads’ with his control and skillset. Moreover, he confirmed that Red Bull designs his car with Verstappen in mind, which is why his teammates usually falter. Alex Albon elaborated on this, claiming that the Dutchman had a distinct racing style and that others couldn’t compete with him even in the same car.
That said, Brundle picked Liam Lawson as someone who can cope with all the pressure put on him by a dominant teammate. Apart from Lawson, the F1 commentator, eyeing the Red Bull seat discussed the other options. He compared Daniel Ricciardo with Sergio Perez and believes if he joins the main team, the outcome won’t be any different. Thus, the only available option left is Carlos Sainz. However, the British F1 pundit believes the father-son dynamics of Verstappens and Sainzs would stop RBR from signing Carlos. The two had a long history of conflicts as Jos Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Sr were the Torro Rosso teammates. Moreover, their intra-team rivalry was so intense that it made them fierce enemies. Thus, Brundle feels Sainz Jr had to wait as even the Mercedes seat is almost confirmed for Kimi Antonelli after his F2 win.
Max Verstappen Shattered The New Red Bull Upgrade In Silverstone
The Red Bull team introduced two upgrades in Silverstone. They installed a new floor for Verstappen and Perez while modifying the edge wings. While Checo failed to qualify for Q1, it was hardly the squad’s most serious defeat.
They struck a stumbling block when Verstappen made a rare mistake owing to the damp surface during Q1. As a result, the Dutchman had a shaky ride around Corpse Corner and landed on gravel. The crash shattered the improved floor and left the RBR crew stunned.
