The last time Sergio Perez made it to the podium, Red Bull was still at the peak of its dominance, with Max Verstappen leading the drivers’ championship and Adrian Newey active at the Milton Keynes headquarters. Since then, Perez has been in a prolonged slump, even at his home Grand Prix. His only competitive showing since the Chinese Grand Prix came in Azerbaijan, where his race ended in a crash. Beyond his inconsistent performances, Perez’s crashes have impacted Red Bull’s cost cap, further complicating their financial strategy.
Now, the calls for Perez’s departure are growing louder, with Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson both eyeing a possible promotion. Due to Perez’s ongoing struggles, Red Bull has slipped to third place in the constructors’ standings, allowing Ferrari to pull ahead. However, a new name has emerged as a potential candidate for RBR’s second seat. The rising star, Franco Colapinto, could be the wild card entry in the Red Bul squad.
Franco Colapinto To Beat Yuki Tsunoda And Liam Lawson In The Race To Red Bull Second Seat
In a major development, Red Bull is reportedly preparing a substantial bid to acquire Williams’ rising talent, Franco Colapinto. The young Argentine driver has impressed since stepping in for Logan Sargeant ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, catching Red Bull’s attention as a promising option for the 2025 season. According to Sky Italia, the Milton Keynes-based team is considering a significant offer, speculated to be around $20 million, to bring Colapinto on board.
Dutch broadcaster Jack Plooij, on his ‘Race Cafe’ program, revealed further details, indicating that Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, has grown increasingly frustrated with Sergio Perez’s inconsistent performances. In response, Marko appears willing to make a bold move by offering Williams a substantial financial package to buy out Colapinto’s contract. Plooij suggested that Red Bull might place Colapinto directly into a Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen, a surprising shift for a driver yet to make his Formula 1 debut.
According to Plooij, Marko has already approached Williams’ team principal, James Vowles, with an aggressive offer, signaling his intent to secure Colapinto for Red Bull. This firm push underscores Red Bull’s readiness to make substantial changes if Perez’s performance doesn’t show significant improvement by the end of the season.
Red Bull’s Shift In Driver Strategy Explained
If Red Bull moves forward with this plan, it would represent a significant shake-up in F1. Not long ago, Franco Colapinto wasn’t even in the Formula 1 lineup, let alone considered for a seat at one of the sport’s top teams. His rapid rise has caught Red Bull’s attention, and the team seems eager to harness his potential.
With the 2025 season on the horizon, the pressure on Sergio Perez to deliver strong performances is only set to increase. Red Bull’s willingness to make such an assertive bid for Colapinto indicates that the team may be prepared to make lineup changes if Perez doesn’t manage to improve his results soon.
