The world of Formula 1 is keeping a very close eye on what Red Bull Racing are planning on doing in the build-up to the winter shutdown.
Red Bull – and every other team on the grid – are required to stop working over the festive period before gearing up again in the new year for the 2025 season.
There are another 24 races on the horizon, but all eyes are on which quartet of drivers will be racing for Red Bull and RB when pre-season testing begins in Bahrain in February.
The only certainty at the moment appears to be that Max Verstappen will look to retain his Drivers’ Championship crown as a Red Bull driver.
The four-time champion is waiting to see whether Red Bull are going to drop Sergio Perez after a tricky campaign that saw him finish eighth in the standings.
Their sister team RB have been caught in the crossfire of this indecision as they’ve been left unable to name a second driver for 2025 while they wait to see whether the 34-year-old will be on the grid next season.
Yuki Tsunoda’s deal was extended earlier in the year, but Liam Lawson has been left without a contract up to this point.
RB set to name two youngsters as reserve drivers in clearest sign yet that Sergio Perz is being dropped
A report from Autoracer.it has shared more details about the potential movements happening at RB over the coming days.
Lawson is the favourite to replace Perez, but regardless of whether he or Tsunoda is promoted, a second driver is needed.
Franco Colapinto was considered by RB, however, he appears to be staying put at Williams as their reserve driver for the 2025 season.
That gives Red Bull the opportunity to promote one of their youngsters to the second seat and one candidate stands out.
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After finishing second to new Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto in the Formula 2 championship this year, Isack Hadjar would have the door ‘opened’ for him to join either Tsunoda or Lawson.
Hadjar’s radio messages make Tsunoda look calm at times, but there are high hopes for the Frenchman if he makes the step up.
A move for Hadjar to join RB is said to be ‘close’, so much so, that RB have already filled Campos’ positions in F2 next year with Arvid Lindblad and Pepe Marti.
It would also mean Lindblad and Marti taking over Hadjar’s current role as reserve driver and Lindblad in particular is highly rated by Christian Horner.
Isack Hadjar could join Formula 1’s ever-growing list of 2025 rookies
There are currently four rookies confirmed to be joining the F1 grid in 2025.
Mercedes have promoted Kimi Antonelli into Lewis Hamilton’s seat and his old F2 teammate Oliver Bearman will begin his first full F1 campaign with Haas, on loan from Ferrari.
As mentioned above, F2 champion Bortoleto will join Nico Hulkenberg as Sauber’s new pairing, while Jack Doohan has already had his first taste of racing in Formula 1 with Alpine.
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Whether Lawson is promoted to the senior Red Bull team or sticks with RB, he and Hadjar would make it six rookies on the grid.
Given there are only 20 race seats available, it’s a remarkable number, especially considering there were no driver changes heading into the 2024 season and Colapinto has somehow missed out during a crazy driver market.
It also means plenty of more experienced drivers have missed out, but they’ll be ready and waiting in case the pressure gets too much for one of F1’s young stars.
