Sergio Perez’s future with Red Bull is more uncertain than ever, as the Mexican driver’s results struggle to impress and directly threaten Red Bull Racing’s championship standings.
As the battle for second place in the Constructors’ Championship tightens between McLaren and Ferrari, Red Bull may be looking to a promising alternative to Perez: Franco Colapinto. But can this young Argentine talent truly bring a strategic refresh to Red Bull?
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Red Bull is going to lose $20 million in prize money
Sergio Perez’s poor performances have put Red Bull in a tough spot, especially with | Ferrari and McLaren making a strong comeback this season. If Red Bull finishes third in the championship, it would mean nearly $20 million lost in FlA prize money. Each place in the Constructors’ standings is worth tens of millions in rewards, and Red Bull knows that if Perez doesn’t meet expectations, justifying this lost income will be difficult. But who could replace the Mexican driver? Heard of Franco Colapinto? A young, talented driver with both impressive results and potential popularity in the Latin American market. He joined Formula 1 after the summer break, replacing Sargeant at Williams, and has already scored five points in five races.
GAME. ON. 👊
Another win for Ferrari leapfrogs them ahead of Red Bull in this thrilling Constructors' title fight 📈#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/gAexEkeDKb
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2024
Why not rookie Franco Colapinto?
Choosing Colapinto as Max Verstappen’s future teammate offers Red Bull two main advantages. First, his young and dynamic profile could inject new energy into the team and deliver solid points in the championship. Red Bull might take this bold move since they have little to lose. Meanwhile, the Argentine attracts many sponsors in Latin America as we have seen with Mercado Libre, having already benefited from the Mexican market through Perez. However, Colapinto is currently tied to Williams, posing a challenge: Red Bull won’t develop him only to see him later return to Williams. Any transfer decision would require a contract buyout or tough negotiation with Williams for a potential starting role in 2025.
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Red Bull has the choice for 2025
If Colapinto joins Red Bull, it could rebalance performance between Red Bull Racing and Alphalauri, especially with the Liam Lawson option also under consideration. Lawson, currently substituting for Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull’s sister team, is already impressing with his aggressive performances and determination. However, Red Bull will also need to avoid overloading the main team by moving all its talent there. The team must also weigh the commercial benefits of each driver to optimize its global position in F1. With the Latin American market on the rise and competition heating up, Red Bull’s 2025 choice is as much a strategic decision in sports as it is a commercial one. One thing is clear, it may be time for Sergio Perez to consider retirement.
This article explores Red Bull’s potential driver lineup decisions for 2025, focusing on Perez’s challenges, Colapinto’s appeal, and the balance needed between Red Bull Racing and VCARB RB for optimal team and financial performance.
Featured image: Red Bull Content Pool
