As the 2024 Formula 1 season draws to a close, Sergio Perez looks increasingly likely to depart Red Bull Racing, with Franco Colapinto now out of the running to replace him for the 2025 F1 season. After weeks of speculation, Colapinto has reportedly been rejected by Red Bull, signaling a shift in the team’s strategy as they eye changes to their driver line-up for next season.
Colapinto’s Early Promise and Rising Interest
Franco Colapinto’s career took a promising turn when he was promoted to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams earlier this season. His impressive start in Formula 1 caught the attention of Red Bull, and there was significant talk of him potentially filling Sergio Perez’s seat for F1 2025.
However, Perez’s underperformance throughout the 2024 season has raised doubts about his future with the team. Max Verstappen’s dominant points tally has overshadowed Perez, who has struggled to contribute to Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship, leaving the defending champions in third place after consecutive victories in 2022 and 2023. This discrepancy has put Perez’s position at risk as Red Bull looks for a more competitive pairing to support Verstappen in 2025.
Colapinto’s Inexperience and Mistakes Lead to Red Bull Rejection
Despite Colapinto’s initial success and the interest it generated, his inexperience began to show under the mounting pressure. Costly mistakes, including crashes at the Brazilian Grand Prix and Las Vegas Grand Prix, led to Red Bull’s interest cooling significantly. These errors, combined with the team’s focus on experience, led to Colapinto being ruled out as a potential replacement for Perez.
By the time the Qatar Grand Prix came around, Red Bull had made it clear that Colapinto was no longer in contention for the senior team’s seat. It also appears that Colapinto’s chances with Alpine—where he was rumored to replace Jack Doohan—have dwindled as well, with Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s advisor, pulling back his support.
Christian Horner’s Take on Colapinto’s Future
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner remains optimistic about Colapinto’s future, despite the setback. “He, for sure, is a talent that’s looking to earn his permanent place in Formula 1,” Horner remarked after the Qatar Grand Prix. “We have a great pool of talent within the Red Bull junior team, and I’m sure Franco will find his way onto the grid in the future.”
While Colapinto won’t be joining Red Bull Racing or AlphaTauri in 2025, Horner emphasized the depth of talent in Red Bull’s junior driver program, suggesting that Colapinto could eventually secure a seat in future seasons.
What’s Next for Red Bull’s Driver Line-Up?
With only one vacant seat on the grid for F1 2025, Red Bull is now focused on evaluating their options for Perez’s replacement. The top contenders for the role include Liam Lawson, who has impressed during his six-race stint with AlphaTauri (VCARB), and Yuki Tsunoda, whose performance has significantly improved, contributing two-thirds of AlphaTauri’s points tally this season.
If either Lawson or Tsunoda is promoted to Red Bull Racing, it is expected that Isack Hadjar, currently second in the Formula 2 standings, will be elevated to AlphaTauri. Hadjar, who finished second in the feature race at the Qatar Grand Prix, is seen as a rising star in the Red Bull driver program.
Perez’s Future with Red Bull
If Perez is replaced in the Red Bull Racing team, it is understood that he will likely be offered an ambassadorship role with the team, similar to that of Daniel Ricciardo. However, the final decision on Perez’s future is expected to be made after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, pending a stellar performance in the final race.
A Pivotal Moment for Red Bull’s 2025 Line-Up
The developments surrounding Franco Colapinto and Sergio Perez signal an important shift in Red Bull Racing’s approach to its driver line-up for F1 2025. As Perez’s exit looms large, the team is weighing its options, with Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda emerging as the leading candidates to partner Max Verstappen next season. The final decisions are set to be made after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, and it is clear that Red Bull is committed to a future built on their strong junior driver program.
