Crimson Bull have loads of choices to exchange Sergio Perez – some are inside their grasp, others are much more bold.
Perez’s future stays below scrutiny at this weekend’s F1 Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, his residence race.
A streak of 14 grands prix with no podium has piled strain onto Perez who admits his season has been “horrible”.
Right here’s 5 methods Crimson Bull might rejig their driver line-up.
Oscar Piastri
Crimson Bull’s declare that they’re desirous about their rival’s McLaren’s Oscar Piastri brought about a stir in Mexico.
“Mark Webber is intensively in search of dialog,” Helmut Marko claimed to F1-Insider.com about Piastri’s supervisor.
Piastri responded: “Positively not. “I’m very completely happy the place I’m.”
Piastri is tied to McLaren till the top of 2026 so can be an extremely troublesome driver for Crimson Bull to acquire.
Any curiosity in him must wait till the top of 2025, a minimum of, when Piastri would have solely a yr remaining at McLaren.
Whether or not Crimson Bull deem {that a} gamble value taking – to go away Perez in situ for the subsequent yr whereas they wait to method Piastri – stays to be seen.
The logic of chasing Piastri is clear – the younger Australian has change into a grand prix winner this yr, and alongside Lando Norris is vital to McLaren overthrowing Crimson Bull within the constructors’ championship.
Marko’s declare about Piastri’s supervisor may, in fact, be a naughty option to try to destabilise Crimson Bull’s essential rival.
Franco Colapinto
Williams driver Franco Colapinto is the elephant within the room.
As a mid-season substitute for the under-performing Logan Sargeant, Colapinto’s mission was at all times momentary. Williams will welcome Carlos Sainz to companion Alex Albon in 2025.
The issue is that Colapinto’s drives has been so eye-catching however he has nowhere to race subsequent season.
Audi/Sauber may take an curiosity in him however appear to be leaning extra to Valtteri Bottas or Gabriel Bortoleto.
So, would Crimson Bull take a punt on Colapinto? Even when it meant placing him of their RB staff and selling one in every of their current drivers alongside Verstappen?
Journalist Sam Energy informed the F1 Nation podcast: “Would Franco be a very good match for Crimson Bull? He’s a driver who has achieved an unbelievable job in deputising, like Liam Lawson did.
“He opens up a brand new market and demographic in Argentina which Formulation 1 hasn’t had for a very long time.
“Through which case, if you wish to have a look at what to do sooner or later, he’s a robust candidate.”
Lawrence Barretto replied: “Helmut Marko is just not afraid of constructing the robust choices and he received’t wish to miss out on a expertise like Colapinto.”
George Russell
Crimson Bull’s declare that they have been protecting a detailed eye on George Russell’s contract state of affairs may need been to irk Mercedes.
Christian Horner name-checked Russell as a potential future choice if Crimson Bull decide to look exterior of their appreciable junior driver pool.
“Christian is at all times making an attempt to stir the s*** up,” Toto Wolff hit again.
However, Russell is out of contract at Mercedes in a yr’s time. Subsequent season, he’ll drive alongside Kimi Antonelli who will change Lewis Hamilton.
Crimson Bull might feasibly hold shut tabs on Russell’s contract state of affairs with a view to creating a suggestion for 2026.
However, that may imply sticking with Perez till then.
Russell has at all times pledged loyalty to Mercedes whose engine plans for the brand new rules in 2026 are reportedly the envy of F1 groups up and down the paddock, which might show to be key within the driver market.
Liam Lawson
Liam Lawson is the clearest and most evident selection to exchange Perez.
He has already been thrown in on the deep finish as a mid-season substitute for Daniel Ricciardo at RB, and he massively impressed in his first grand prix in Texas final week.
Lawson went from the again of the grid to a factors scoring place, and Horner praised him as driving “like a veteran”.
The speak throughout the F1 paddock is that Lawson is successfully auditioning between now and the top of the season to be instantly promoted from RB into Perez’s automobile in 2025.
Lawson has the massive alternative at his fingertips. However will he truly do sufficient to show to Crimson Bull that he’s a major improve on the skilled Perez?
Yuki Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda has been throughout the Crimson Bull driver programme for 3 years however has seldom been mentioned significantly for the primary drive, alongside Verstappen.
Tsunoda outperformed Ricciardo this season which successfully introduced the highlight on the veteran Aussie, who has now misplaced his drive.
If Tsunoda may also see off Lawson, his highly-rated new teammate, then Crimson Bull may take a shine to him.
He has main backers in Honda, the Japanese producer who’ve at all times supported him profession, and who’re Crimson Bull’s companions.
Honda’s suggestion might result in an end-of-season check within the Crimson Bull for Tsunoda.
There’s an apparent pathway for him into the coveted drive in 2025, even when he hasn’t at all times appeared destined to be Verstappen’s teammate.
A Crimson Bull junior
The best option to change Perez – and a way which Crimson Bull might management from begin to end – can be to advertise Lawson or Tsunoda, then change them at RB with any individual inside.
Crimson Bull have traditionally positioned nice religion of their junior driver pool.
Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad would appear to be on the high of the checklist.
Hadjar is at present second within the Formulation 2 standings. Linblad is fourth in F3.
Would both be backed for a step up into F1?
