Sergio Perez will no longer drive in F1 next year, at least not with Red Bull
Sergio Perez's time is up. The Mexican driver will not be driving for Red Bull next year for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Either he stays at Racing Bulls or he leaves F1. A spot seems to be opening up for Isack Hadjar. Julien Fébreau announced it.
Julien Fébreau, the journalist and commentator of Formula 1 on Canal+, confirmed this Saturday, December 7th: Sergio Perez will not drive as a regular driver for Red Bull in 2025. The Mexican driver still has a contract, but the results of this season have forced Red Bull’s management to make a decision.
« As we were saying, this is his final qualifying session with Red Bull. The choice has not yet been officially announced, but the decision has been made at Red Bull, » explains Julien Fébreau. « Sergio Perez will no longer be in this car next year, it will be Liam Lawson who will take his place. »
« It has not been made official by Red Bull, but our information allows us to say so. »
Who will replace Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen?
Max Verstappen is a driver who has crushed all his teammates so far: Daniil Kvyat, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon and Sergio Perez. Being by his side in 2025, after 4 drivers’ world championship titles, will not be an easy task.
The problem for Red Bull currently is its reduced workforce from its junior teams. Apart from Yuki Tsunoda, who is the most experienced in Formula 1, the other drivers have been dismissed, such as Nyck de Vries or Daniel Ricciardo after him. Therefore, the favorite would be, due to his experience, Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese driver supported notably by Honda, who co-produces Red Bull Powertrains engines, but according to Julien Fébreau, it is actually Liam Lawson who will take the second Red Bull seat.
Yuki Tsunoda hinted in recent days that he did not seem to be the favorite for the Red Bull seat.
Who will replace Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls?
With the promotion – which is still to be formalized – of Liam Lawson, a seat will be available at Racing Bulls. Traditionally, the most prominent Formula 2 driver takes this seat and currently, the most experienced and best performing F2 driver is Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman is indeed playing for the championship title this year, currently 5.5 points behind the leader before the final long race of the year, which will take place tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.
Isack Hadjar does not have any information yet, but according to Motors Inside sources, we will have an answer in the next two weeks on a possible promotion of Hadjar to F1.
If Red Bull chooses not to place Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls, Daniel Ricciardo, who was thanked a few weeks ago, could make his return to Formula 1.
If Hadjar is promoted, we will therefore have three French drivers in Formula 1 next season: Esteban Ocon moving to Haas and Pierre Gasly still at Alpine.
