The Milton Keynes-based group has a vacant slot for 2025 with Sergio Perez’s contract working out on the finish of this season.
Perez has proven some improved potential this yr and, off the again of ending runner-up to Verstappen within the Japanese Grand Prix, he at the moment lies second within the drivers’ standings.
However Crimson Bull nonetheless needs to see if Perez can sustain this manner long run, having began final season in equally good condition earlier than he endured a mid-year hunch that prompted questions on his future.
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The squad has loads of choices accessible ought to it determine that it doesn’t need to proceed with Perez, as there are a number of main drivers that aren’t but locked down.
One avenue may very well be to maintain issues inner and promote Yuki Tsunoda from RB, with the Japanese teenager having delivered a robust begin to the season that included a prime 10 end in his house race at Suzuka.
Autosport understands, nonetheless, that Crimson Bull can be evaluating different extra skilled candidates.
Alex Albon is on its shortlist, however he’s out of attain for 2025 as a result of he’s locked right down to a contract with Williams, so would should be purchased out. As revealed earlier this yr, Red Bull has asked for a first-refusal option on his services for 2026.
Pole man Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is, nonetheless, a extra severe candidate, along with his race-winning kind and spectacular technical capabilities making him a no brainer alternative if Crimson Bull thinks it must do one thing totally different.
However the Sainz scenario is difficult by the truth that Crimson Bull shouldn’t be the one group that the Spaniard has choices with.
Sources have revealed that factions inside Aston Martin need him to hitch the Silverstone outfit for 2025 alongside Lance Stroll and lead it into the brand new F1 guidelines period from 2026, relatively than proceed with Fernando Alonso.
After which F1’s latest producer Audi can be on the hunt for the drivers it needs for its entry in 2026, with Sainz having been certainly one of its apparent targets for some time now.
Audi’s push to get its drivers in place as early as subsequent yr signifies that those that have choices there could not be capable to wait too lengthy, and because of this they could have to put down a deadline for Crimson Bull to make its name.
Crimson Bull insists that it’s unmoved by what different groups need although, and says that it’s going to take on a regular basis it wants to make sure it has the strongest driver pairing for 2025.
Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing, 2nd place, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, 1st place, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, third place, within the Press Convention
Photograph by: Motorsport Images
Talking completely to Autosport concerning the scenario, Crimson Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko stated: “The driving force market has exploded in April, and usually nobody talks [about it] in April.
“It’s ridiculous, however we received’t soar into this sport ourselves. We are going to wait and see, and solely then make the only option afterward.
“I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve heard that Audi is making strain, however it’s a little bit unusual for a newcomer to make strain on the motive force market.”
Whereas Crimson Bull is blissful to attend till the summer time, Perez thinks it’s going to kick into motion a lot sooner, with it anticipated that the primary driver market strikes might come imminently.
“I’m fairly relaxed about it,” he instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “It’s my 14th season in F1 and no matter comes subsequent, I’m already actually happy with what I’ve finished within the sport to this point. I imagine will probably be a matter of time.
“Clearly the motive force market is transferring and within the subsequent few weeks there are going to be plenty of actions for positive. So, I anticipate inside a month to essentially know what I’m doing subsequent yr.”
Crimson Bull group principal Christian Horner stated the second seat was very a lot in Perez’s fingers, particularly if he continues delivering.
“He wants to simply hold doing what he is doing,” defined Horner. “The entire driver market appears to be very early this yr that everyone appears to be speeding round, and we’re solely 4 races into the yr.
“We’re not in an enormous rush. And, clearly, there is a vital quantity of curiosity in our vehicles, as you’ll anticipate. However Checo has the precedence, and it will be a couple of extra races but earlier than we begin to consider subsequent yr.”
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