How did it come to this? Despite signing a new deal just weeks ago, Sergio Perez is already fighting for his Red Bull future. Amidst the buzz of Saturday’s British Grand Prix qualifying, the real action is happening off-track with key updates involving Perez, Daniel Ricciardo, and Liam Lawson.
Sergio Perez is unwavering about his Red Bull future. Just last month, he signed a new contract extending his stay with the team until the end of the F1 2026 season. Perez insists his position is “done and dusted”. However, with Perez struggling for form, reports have surfaced suggesting Red Bull might not rule out a mid-season seat swap with Ricciardo. Perez’s troubles peaked when he failed to qualify beyond Q1, but he remains determined about his future.
Daniel Ricciardo, always the wild card, hinted that “crazy things happen” in F1. He has been itching to reclaim his spot at Red Bull since his return to the sport. Despite some struggles, Ricciardo hasn’t shut the door on a potential comeback to his former team. His comments after qualifying at Silverstone have only fueled the rumors.
Meanwhile, Red Bull is giving Liam Lawson a significant opportunity. Lawson is set to drive the RB20 car during a filming day at Silverstone. This is more than just a test drive; it’s seen as a critical step towards him securing a seat for the F1 2025 season. Helmut Marko has even suggested that Lawson is in line for a promotion.
Christian Horner, the man in the middle of all this, admitted it’s “brutally hard” to discuss whether Red Bull acted too quickly in securing Perez with a new deal. He defended the decision, saying it made complete sense at the time and hoped it would help Perez avoid another mid-season slump like in 2023.
In other driver market news, Esteban Ocon is reportedly signing with Haas for the F1 2025 season, potentially marking the end of Kevin Magnussen’s F1 career. Ocon is expected to team up with Oliver Bearman, signaling a fresh start for Haas.
With all these developments, Red Bull’s driver lineup remains the talk of the town. Perez, Ricciardo, and Lawson all have their eyes set on the future, but only time will tell who will seize the coveted seat.
