Red Bull just dropped a bombshell by announcing Sergio Perez will remain their driver for the next two seasons. This unexpected move has ignited tension between Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, especially since the 81-year-old Austrian had his sights set on promoting Liam Lawson to a top seat.
Perez’s new two-year contract has taken many in the F1 paddock by surprise. Despite Red Bull’s dominant season and Max Verstappen’s record-breaking performance, Perez only narrowly clinched second place in last year’s drivers’ championship. Furthermore, the qualifying lap time gap between Max and Checo places them ninth as a pairing on the current grid. With strong contenders like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz available, it’s clear that internal politics are at play.
This decision has significant implications for Liam Lawson, who has made it clear to Red Bull and Christian Horner that he will look elsewhere if not given a seat. Lawson filled in for Ricciardo following his injury at the 2023 Zandvoort Grand Prix, where he managed to score points by finishing ninth in Qatar. Lawson expressed his uncertainty about his future, saying, ‘I have no idea—everything is changing at the moment. There are a lot of drivers moving around. At the moment, I don’t really know where I slot into that, or if I do at all.’
Lawson, who has been with Red Bull for six years, has voiced his preference to stay with the team but is open to other opportunities. ‘If I could choose, I would love to be with Red Bull. But obviously, if there’s no seat there, my goal is F1. So that could be anywhere. It’s talked about a lot, it’s being managed. I’m always trying to work on trying to find out where I’m sitting within the team for my future.’
Helmut Marko has been vocal about wanting Lawson to have a seat within the Red Bull junior team this year. He acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, ‘with Liam Lawson as reserve, we have a strong driver who, contractually, can drive for another team if he does not get a seat with us in 2025. In this sense, it would be nice if we could see him in Formula One this year to have a clearer picture, but it is a complex issue. We will have to see how things evolve.’
In other news, Alpine is facing more turmoil. Esteban Ocon will be leaving at the end of the season, and the team has announced Jack Doohan will make his F1 debut during the Canadian Grand Prix. The strained relationship between Ocon and Alpine’s team boss Bruno Famin appears to have reached a breaking point. Following a public outburst from Famin criticizing Ocon, it seems the driver has had enough. Alpine’s car issues and Famin’s lack of F1 experience have only worsened the situation, leaving the team in disarray.
Regarding the financial aspect of F1, every team needs to find $50 million outside their sponsorship deals to meet the cost cap set by the FIA. Williams recently confirmed they’ve achieved this, while former Alpine boss Otmar Szafnaeur revealed Renault’s team was ‘ten of millions’ short of the required budget.
Red Bull’s decision to extend Sergio Perez’s contract has significant ramifications, not just for Perez, but for the future of rising talent Liam Lawson. As Alpine grapples with internal strife and financial challenges, the F1 landscape remains as unpredictable as ever.
