Fight for the place: Pérez before the final exit from Red Bull!

Fight for the place: Pérez before the final exit from Red Bull!

Sergio Perez is about to leave Red Bull Racing, as is widely reported. This decision is almost finalized and only the final details of the contract termination remain to be clarified. Team boss Christian Horner and chief advisor Helmut Marko have agreed in discussions that the 34-year-old will no longer drive alongside world champion Max Verstappen in the coming Formula 1 season, which is planned for 2025. According to reports from Krone.at Liam Lawson, who took over the cockpit from Daniel Ricciardo at the Racing Bulls last season, is likely to replace Perez.

Perez, who only signed a new two-year contract in June, had a disastrous season in 2024, finishing the championship 285 points behind Verstappen without a podium finish since the Chinese Grand Prix in April. In an interview, Perez confirmed that discussions are ongoing about his future with the team. He emphasized: “We will talk in the coming days and see what the situation looks like for both parties.” However, it was said that negotiations over a possible separation were becoming more intense PlanetF1.com reported.

Lawson's possible rise

With Lawson's impending move to the Red Bull cockpit, there will also be a vacancy at the Racing Bulls. Isack Hadjar, a 20-year-old from the RB academy, is considered the favorite for this position. Lawson expressed confidence and stressed that the opportunity to drive alongside Verstappen represents a great opportunity for him as a driver. He is aware that competing against Formula 1's dominator Verstappen will be challenging, but also sees the opportunity to learn from one of the best drivers of all time.