Red Bull looks set to drop Sergio Perez after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as a full-time driver for the team, which will pave the way for a promotion to their main team alongside Max Verstappen.
Liam Lawson has been touted as a potential successor to Perez after replacing Daniel Ricciardo following the Singapore GP, in what was likely a move to prepare him for a promotion next season.
Red Bull is now consigned to third in the Constructors’ Championship in what was likely a result of Perez’s poor results in the second half of the season, having only scored one point in the last four races.
With Lawson being promoted, it would leave a space at Visa CashApp RB to be taken by another driver. Williams driver Franco Colapinto has impressed since taking over from Logan Sargeant, with Red Bull keen to have talks with James Vowles over potentially taking him away from the team.
Now it appears Red Bull has decided not to sign Colapinto and will instead focus on F2 rookie Isack Hadjar who recently impressed Christian Horner at the Qatar GP weekend. According to a report by ESPN, there is an ‘expensive’ reason why Red Bull decided not to sign Colapinto.
Franco Colapinto had too many ‘expensive crashes’ for Red Bull seat
Commercially it made sense for Red Bull to sign Colapinto given his links to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, whose business empire also sponsors Perez.
Perez leaving meant that Red Bull faced a £20 million gap in sponsorship deals, with Colapinto’s sponsors said to bring in enough money to plug any losses.
But according to sources at ESPN, a combination of Colapinto’s performances over the last three races and expensive crashes in Brazil and Las Vegas means Red Bull has opted against pursuing that option.
Williams faced a seven-figure crash damage bill after the Sao Paulo GP and Colapinto’s crash in Las Vegas did little to help their cause, with the team forced to borrow spare parts from Mercedes in Qatar.
Sergio Perez set to receive offer from Red Bull that Daniel Ricciardo rejected
Perez’s form in the second half of the season has arguably been enough to justify him getting let go at the end of the season.
While Perez has a contract for next year and is adamant he will be racing, when asked about his future following the Qatar GP Sprint race Horner has told the Mexican to ‘come to his own conclusions’ amid mounting pressure over his future.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname
Perez was seen speaking to Audi boss Mattia Binotto on the Qatar GP grid, in what could be a left-field decision for the Mexican if he chooses to continue in F1.
After Perez was previously linked to signing for Audi, the team ultimately chose to go with Nico Hulkenberg instead and will partner him with Gabriel Bortoleto for 2025.
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