Christian Horner: “We desperately need answers”

Red Bull has acknowledged that it is imperative to reduce the performance gap between Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen, especially in view of the 2025 season, where the team anticipates an even more intense battle for the constructor and driver championship.

The drop in competitiveness of the Austrian team in recent months has allowed McLaren to take the lead , surpassing Red Bull in the performance hierarchy. The British team now has a 41-point lead in the constructors’ standings, although Verstappen maintains a still comfortable 52-point gap in the drivers’ championship.

Pérez and Verstappen: too big a gap

Sergio Pérez is struggling this season. Since his last podium at the Chinese Grand Prix in April, he has been stuck in eighth place in the championship with 144 points, which is 187 fewer than his teammate.

Despite the extension of his contract and Red Bull’s support during the summer break, the Mexican driver has not managed to turn things around, and increasingly persistent rumors are circulating about his future within the team.

The situation of Perez could become more precarious, especially with the arrival of Liam Lawson, replacing Daniel Ricciardo, who will take the opportunity to show himself at Red Bull. The idea that he could <a href="/f1/actualite/34890-liam-lawson-toujours-susceptible-remplacer-perez-red-bull.html" title="Liam Lawson toujours susceptible de remplacer Pérez chez Red Bull

"Replace the Mexican" is gaining more and more momentum and the pressure to perform is already weighing on Lawson's shoulders, even though he has not yet gotten into the single-seater.

A vision aimed at 2025

Christian Horner, the team principal, explained that this change aims to evaluate the options available for the team in 2025: “We have an urgent need to find solutions,” he told Autosport, mentioning the persistent issue with the second driver.

Horner also highlighted the upcoming competition: When we look at our rivals, Ferrari will be formidable next year with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. In addition, McLaren has a strong duo with Norris and Piastri. We must ensure that the gap between our two drivers is not too big, as it is not sustainable for us.

The young drivers, the future of F1

At the same time, Helmut Marko, advisor at Red Bull, acknowledged that the emergence of the new generation of Formula 1 drivers has reduced doubts about the integration of new talents within teams: « The performances in the Grand Prix of Oliver Bearman and, more particularly, Franco Colapinto have proven that young drivers are ready to take a step forward, and that the old mentality of certain team managers, which consisted in promoting only drivers with three or four years of experience in a top team, is no longer relevant.

Can a young driver ensure the continuity of Red Bull’s competitiveness? For now, the answer remains uncertain.