Who will be Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2025? A question that is often discussed in expert circles in Formula 1 these days – and a question that implies: It probably won’t be Sergio Pérez.
The 34-year-old Mexican’s contract expires at the end of the season, and if he continues to fall as sharply in the team’s internal comparison as was the case at times in 2023, then, some suspect, Red Bull will not make him an offer to stay in the team.
But is Pérez’s farewell really as good as a done deal, as some media portrays? Because there are also the pro-Pérez arguments: what an outstanding “wingman” Verstappen can be, he proved that in Abi Dhabi 2021, for example. And since Daniel Ricciardo, there has been no one who has come anywhere near as close to Verstappen at Red Bull as Pérez.
In any case, for Helmut Marko it is not set in stone that Pérez will have to pack his bags at the end of the season: “He still has a contract for 2024. It’s up to him. If he drives in a similar form to how he completed the last races, then “We can easily talk about a further extension,” says Red Bull’s motorsport consultant.
Marko was the one who fueled the media speculation. He has publicly described the chances that New Zealander Liam Lawson will drive in Formula 1 races for one of the two Red Bull teams in 2025 as high. But where should a place be free for Lawson if Pérez is really allowed to stay?
Marko announces the decision about the summer break
We probably won’t think about the drivers for 2025 before August: “After the summer break, we could already have certain thoughts ready,” Marko announced in an interview with ServusTV, which can be seen in a video on the Formula1.de YouTube channel. at.
It is an open secret that Marko could easily imagine Lando Norris as Verstappen’s teammate. But he has just extended his McLaren contract. That leaves Ricciardo as the most realistic option for a possible Pérez successor. “Ricciardo has to show that he has Tsunoda clearly under control. Then he might be a candidate,” confirms Marko.
Alexander Albon, who once failed miserably alongside Verstappen at Red Bull, but has since blossomed into new form at Williams, is also considered a candidate. According to information from Motorsport-Total.com, Red Bull would like to agree an option with the Thai driver that would allow Red Bull to bring him back in 2026 (or perhaps even as early as 2025).
Marko confirms exit clause in Verstappen’s contract
The 80-year-old is not worried that Verstappen could also “do a Hamilton” and change teams completely unexpectedly. Toto Wolff has already announced that he will interview all candidates who are theoretically eligible for a Mercedes cockpit. And Verstappen could get out of his Red Bull contract, which runs until 2028.
Marko has now confirmed this publicly for the first time: “As in every Formula 1 contract, there are clauses if certain success quality criteria are not met. These are also included in Max’s contract,” admits the Austrian.
But: The fact that Verstappen can be bought away with “absurd sums of money” is “not an issue for Max, I don’t think.” The situation would be more problematic if Red Bull “were not able to provide him with a car capable of winning: as a racing driver, he is of course interested in success.”
“You’re not getting any younger. And if he didn’t see the light with Red Bull and these criteria were to come into play, then it’s quite clear that he would also look around: Where could there be something better?” says Marko.