Helmut Marko issues blunt six-word warning to Liam Lawson and Sergio Perez amid Red Bull seat battle

The battle for the second Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen is set to heat up as the 2024 season heads into its final two races.

The second seat at the defending champions has been a difficult one to perform in compared to the Dutchman in recent years. Verstappen has considerably outperformed his teammates – including the likes of Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and now Sergio Perez – as no one has been able to get near the 27-year-old in equal machinery.

This has especially been the case in 2024. While Verstappen has won eight races and secured his fourth consecutive title in Las Vegas, teammate Perez is having his worst season with Red Bull to date.

The Mexican has desperately struggled to find performance this season in qualifying and races. Perez has failed to reach Q3 in the last eight qualifying sessions (including Sprint qualifying) and has finished higher than 10th once in the last six races.

Despite having a contract until at least 2026, it seems that Perez is under serious threat of losing his seat before 2025.

It is likely that one of the RB drivers – Red Bull’s junior team – will be promoted if Perez is sacked. But whatever the team choose to do, Helmut Marko sent a firm warning to the drivers behind Verstappen.

Helmut Marko says no other Red Bull driver could be champion besides Max Verstappen

Liam Lawson has been heavily linked with a promotion to Red Bull following his solid performances with RB this season.

Replacing Daniel Ricciardo from the Singapore Grand Prix onwards, the Kiwi driver has scored four points from his first four races – finishing ninth in Austin and Sao Paulo.

Lawson has also beaten Perez in two of those races. The duo have come to blows a couple of times in recent events as the former fights to replace the latter next season.

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Whoever Red Bull picks to drive alongside Verstappen in 2025 will be number two to the Dutchman, and Marko all but confirmed this to De Telegraaf as he stressed the four-time champion is the team’s main priority.

The Austrian claimed that no other driver in the team’s setup would become world champion next to Verstappen.

“And Red Bull? For us it’s only about Max. There is no other driver who fits in with our environment, who would also become champion,” he said.

Red Bull are set to decide on Max Verstappen’s teammate after Abu Dhabi

With the drivers’ championship wrapped up for Red Bull, the attention now shifts to who Verstappen’s teammate will be next season.

Marko says the team will make their decision after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, putting even more pressure on Perez to perform as he only has two races left to save his seat.

Christian Horner has set Perez the target of finishing higher up the field to aid the team’s bid to win the Constructors’ Championship. But with the Mexican’s abysmal run of form, it is hard to imagine either of those things happening.

Lawson is believed to be in pole position to replace Perez in 2025, and the 22-year-old will be eager to finish the season strong to give him the best chance of racing with Red Bull next year.

Lawrence Barretto says it will be critical for Lawson to beat Yuki Tsunoda in the last two races if he wants to secure that second seat at Red Bull. Even if he is not picked to race for the defending champions, he will likely be in F1 in 2025 anyway with RB.