The last time Sergio Perez secured a podium finish, Red Bull remained the dominant force in Formula 1, with Max Verstappen leading the Drivers’ Championship and Adrian Newey contributing to the success of the Milton Keynes-based team. Since then, the Mexican driver has endured a prolonged slump that persisted even at his home race. Apart from a promising performance in Azerbaijan following the Chinese Grand Prix, which ended in a crash, Perez has struggled to remain competitive.
Adding to Red Bull’s woes, Perez’s subpar performances and a series of crashes have strained the team’s budget under the cost cap, placing them at a disadvantage. This has fueled louder speculation about Perez’s potential departure, with Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson seen as contenders for promotion. However, Tsunoda and Lawson might have to wait as an F1 insider recently revealed that Franco Colpinto is almost ‘fixed’ for the Red Bull seat.
Red Bull Ready To Sign Franco Colapinto For 2025
Ralf Schumacher believes that Franco Colapinto is on the brink of joining the Red Bull fold, with the deal likely to involve more than just Helmut Marko’s usual oversight of driver decisions. According to Schumacher, Colapinto’s entry into the Red Bull setup is almost certain, with significant backing and financial support contributing to the agreement. This partnership is expected to be substantial, drawing interest from high-ranking figures beyond Marko, who typically oversees Red Bull’s driver development program.
Schumacher suggested that Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Corporate Projects and New Investments at Red Bull GmbH, may have played a pivotal role. As Marko’s superior within the organizational structure, Mintzlaff represents the interests of Mark Mateschitz, the co-owner of Red Bull, while the Yoovidhya family holds the majority ownership stake of 51%. This suggests that strategic interests from the top tiers of Red Bull management could have driven Colapinto’s potential addition to the team.
If the deal is confirmed, the focus will shift to whether Colapinto joins Red Bull’s main F1 team or their junior outfit, VCARB. Speculation remains, as Red Bull is yet to finalize a driver for the remaining seat at VCARB for the 2025 season. However, Sergio Perez’s ongoing struggles alongside Max Verstappen have raised questions about his future with the team, leaving the door open for Colapinto to step directly into a Red Bull Racing seat. Schumacher noted that Red Bull itself may still be weighing its options internally. He highlighted the possibility of giving a young talent like Colapinto a chance, particularly given Perez’s current underperformance, which has created an opportunity for fresh talent to make an impact within the team.
Karun Chandhok Feels It Is Too Early For Colapinto’s Red Bull Promotion
Karun Chandhok has weighed in on Franco Colapinto’s potential future in Formula 1, expressing both optimism and caution about his career trajectory. Chandhok believes that Colapinto’s driving style and adaptability make him well-suited to the demands of an F1 car, highlighting his potential as a promising talent in the sport. However, he emphasized the importance of carefully managing the young driver’s progression.
According to Chandhok, while placing Colapinto in a junior team like VCARB would be a sensible step forward, moving him directly into a Red Bull Racing seat alongside Max Verstappen might be premature. Such a move could risk overwhelming the young driver, as competing against Verstappen, who has set a benchmark in the sport, could prove too challenging at this stage of Colapinto’s career.
