Red Bull Racing shareholders reportedly held a meeting on Monday to discuss their driver line-ups heading into the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Currently, three drivers within the Red Bull and RB set-ups have contracts for next season.
However, both pairings that took part in the final race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix might look different when they reach Australia for next year’s season opener.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez had a weekend to forget in the Emirati desert, with the Dutchman only finishing P6, while Perez didn’t reach the end of the first lap.
It was a pointless weekend for RB in their battle with Alpine and Haas for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, with Liam Lawson forced to retire with a power unit issue and Yuki Tsunoda unable to recover to the top 10 after a botched start.
Verstappen will remain at Red Bull and Tsunoda is likely to stay at RB, but that’s where the consistency may end.
Perez looks set to leave Red Bull after four seasons with Lawson likely to be promoted into Perez’s seat as he doesn’t currently have a contract with either team for 2025.
Team principal Christian Horner and chief advisor Helmut Marko will both have a big say in any changes to their line-ups for next year.
Unfortunately, something Horner has posted on social media may have already given Perez’s fans a sign of things to come, and unsurprisingly, they’re not happy.
Sergio Perez fans unhappy Christian Horner didn’t mention him in Abu Dhabi GP social media post
Reflecting on the season that’s just passed, Horner said: “That’s a wrap for our 20th season! Together with 2021, probably one of our toughest yet.
“An incredible 4th Drivers’ Championship for @MaxVerstappen1 and a season with nine victories overall and it was incredibly hard-earned.
“Congratulations to @McLaren for winning the Constructors’ Championship. We know it takes a gargantuan effort to do it. They have been fierce competitors on track this season.”
Perez fans noticed that he wasn’t mentioned but Verstappen and weren’t shy in sharing their thoughts.
One fan said, “Didn’t know they only had one pilot,” while another agreed, “The saddest thing is you give the full blame to Checo when you know his car was a flop all season.”
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Another fan told Horner what they need to do next season, “For next year the team has the OBLIGATION to give @schecoperez a competitive car.
“The team has been disappointing this season, what they have done for Sergio, not to mention the constant attacks in the press that the team itself is causing. #NeverGiveUp Checo vamos!”
Two more fans were unhappy with Horner’s perceived treatment of Perez, stating: “Today was all about giving him a car that won’t fail again. Hopefully, Checo gets out, this team doesn’t deserve him.”
“Where is Checo? Always supporting Checo. Give him a good car as Max and he will show you the good pilot that he is,” another fan lamented.
However, one more Red Bull gave Horner some advice on who Perez should be replaced with and commented, “Hope [to] hear soon regarding [a] new young driver to replace Checo. Checo was costing Red Bull [with] the skyrocketing damage cost but surely [also the] championship. Yuki is the best option so far.”
Sergio Perez can’t feel hard done by if his time at Red Bull comes to an end
While Perez is extremely popular, especially as Mexico’s only active F1 driver, his results have become unsustainable for Red Bull.
He finished the season 285 points behind Verstappen and his form since the summer break are in line with a driver racing for a midfield team.
Perez could stay at Red Bull even if he loses his race seat, but whether that’s an attractive option is a different matter.
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There are no seats available to him elsewhere on the grid if he wants to remain in Formula 1 in 2025, meaning he would need to take a sabbatical in the hope that a team would take a punt on him in 2026.
He may believe he’s a strong candidate for Cadillac’s F1 entry when they make their debut.
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