Red Bull says Tsunoda and Lawson are potential replacements for Perez

This is the big question at the end of 2024: who will pilot the second Red Bull next season? Who will line up alongside Max Verstappen Who will have the honour, or rather who will take the risk, of joining the uncompromising Austrian team, where many have failed in recent years?

It is now a given that Sergio Pérez will not do the 2025 season with Red Bull. Despite a contract extension until 2026, signed last June, the Mexican is not expected to be a starter following a catastrophic campaign that certainly deprived Red Bull of the Constructors' title. After the last Grand Prix of the season, in Abu Dhabi, the two parties were due to have a discussion to discuss the future of the six-time Grand Prix winner. "Now that the season is over, we're going to sit down with him and reflect on the season, the mistakes made and what needs to be done moving forward.", Christian Horner confided after the Abu Dhabi GP.

Red Bull and the “crucial” choice of the 2nd driver in 2025

While the outcome of these discussions is still unknown, the British leader did confirm one thing after the Emirati round: if Sergio Pérez were to lose his steering wheel, the choice of his replacement would fall on one of the two Racing Bulls drivers, namely Yuki tsunoda and Liam Lawson. “I think Liam, in difficult circumstances, did a very good job. If you analyse what he did in the time he had and the race pace he had, I think he did a good job. Yuki did a good job as well, so if something were to happen with Checo [Pérez], they would be the candidates we would look at.”, said the Red Bull Team Principal.

"There is no immediate emergency, Christian Horner nevertheless emphasizes that he wants to take his time before making his decision.. We have all the possible permutations internally, so I think the first thing to do is sit down with Checo and have that conversation now that the season is over. He's still our driver, and it wouldn't be right for me to speculate on what next year will be until he and I sit down together."

The boss of the Austrian team, however, recalled that he was " crucial " for Red Bull to have "two drivers who regularly score points for the Constructors' Championship", in the face of ever more fierce competition. Ferrari will be strong with its line-up next year, as McLaren, and Mercedes will have an inexperienced driver. So for us it is very important that both our drivers are up to the task and that there is no significant gap." In Abu Dhabi, Yuki Tsunoda was able to take the wheel of the RB20, a test that had been planned for a long time but which allowed the Japanese to show his worth to the team. However, Liam Lawson seems better placed to take over Sergio Pérez's place in 2025. In this game of musical chairs, one driver could well benefit: Isack Hadjar, promised a seat at Racing Bulls if one of the two holders were to climb to Red Bull.

ALSO READ > Verstappen believes 'people have been very hard' on Perez this season