The Red Bull team is in the midst of a second-seat crisis. While Max Verstappen firmly holds the one end, Sergio Perez loosens his grip with consistent failures. As a result, fans wanted to see a replacement for Checo to steer RB20 for the remainder of 2024 and beyond. However, during the summer break, the RBR management confirmed Perez’s place till the completion of this season.
Although Helmut Marko was not in favor of the decision, he still backed Checo’s experience to find his way back. Earlier, Marko opened up about the immense talent of the Red Bull academy drivers. Moreover, even the stakeholders will put their money on a fresh face. However, in a fresh assessment, Marko confirmed that someone from the academy would replace Perez in 2025.
Helmut Marko Wants Someone From The “Junior Program” To Replace Sergio Perez
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior advisor, discussed the team’s plans for Max Verstappen’s future teammate during an interview with ORF. When asked about the preference for Verstappen’s partner next season, Marko hinted that Red Bull was leaning towards selecting a driver from their junior program. He emphasized that youth was becoming the trend again, pointing out how other teams, like Mercedes with Kimi Antonelli and Haas with Oliver Bearman, were following this strategy. He also expressed hope that Franco Colapinto, who impressed with his performances at Williams, would secure a seat in the sport.
Marko went on to explain Red Bull’s reasoning behind giving Liam Lawson a chance in the Red Bull seat. The decision between Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda was driven by the desire to assess who was faster. Red Bull wanted a direct comparison between the two to determine who had the upper hand regarding speed and performance. Moreover, this could be a sign for Liam Lawson of a Red Bull promotion. He was brought in as a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo and given a chance to prove his worth. Earlier in 2023, the New Zealander got a few chances and impressed the RBR management. Therefore, if he could outperform Yuki Tsunoda in the last six rounds of 2024, Lawson might pair up with Verstappen in 2025.
Max Verstappen To Continue Racing As Long As He Enjoys It: Helmut Marko
Helmut Marko shared insights into Max Verstappen’s unique approach to his Formula 1 career, contrasting him with drivers like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. While Alonso and Hamilton are determined to continue racing as long as they remain physically competitive, Verstappen’s priorities are different.
Although winning is important to him, his focus isn’t on the number of World Championship titles he can collect, whether it’s four, five, or more. Instead, Verstappen places great importance on enjoying the sport and his life as a whole. For him, the key is working in an environment where he feels comfortable and fulfilled, highlighting the balance between personal satisfaction and professional success that shapes his career.