Red Bull F1 driver U-turn on the cards as Marko considers replacing Perez

06 February 2024 , 14:53

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Helmut Marko will play a key role in deciding Sergio Perez's Red Bull future (Image: Getty Images)

Helmut Marko insists Sergio Perez may yet earn a new Red Bull deal despite heavy speculation that he will be replaced.

The Mexican's seat is undoubtedly under pressure after a series of inconsistent results in 2023, despite having by far the quickest car on the grid. His contract expires this year and Red Bull are considering their options for 2025 and beyond.

Daniel Ricciardo is believed to be the man primed to step up from the sister team to replace Perez should Red Bull decide to make a change. Team-mate Yuki Tsunoda will also hope to be in the frame, while an outside hire is also a possibility.

But team adviser Marko, who has great influence in deciding Red Bull's driver line-ups, insists Perez is still in with a shot of keeping his place alongside Max Verstappen. "If Checo has a good season, it is quite possible that the line-up in 2025 will also consist of Verstappen and Perez," he told German outlet Sport.

Perez may well be saved by the fact many of the top external candidates to replace him have committed elsewhere. Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris last month signed new deals with Ferrari and McLaren respectively, while the Monegasque will be joined by Lewis Hamilton from 2025.

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Red Bull have, in recent days been linked with their former racer Alex Albon who has impressed in his two years so far with Williams. The British-Thai racer's results and performances look to have made him a target for many teams up and down the grid.

Mirror Sport understands a recent report claiming a contract offer from Red Bull for Albon is already on the table is wide of the mark. It would be premature for the defending champions to make their driver 2025 line-up decision before the previous season has even begun.

But he is undoubtedly a potential candidate for a fairytale return to the team he left at the end of 2020. And Red Bull are not the only F1 front-runners keen on the 27-year-old - Albon is also a potential candidate to replace Hamilton when he joins Ferrari next year.

As for Perez, he does not plan on giving up his seat without a fight. Regarding his 2023 struggles, he said: "We started the year really strongly, then we had a bit of a rollercoaster mid-season. But we didn't give up, we stuck together as a team, and I want to thank my whole team for supporting me.

"We went through very tough times, but we managed to secure the best season in the history of our team. And we've learned from those difficult moments, [so] we will come back next year stronger."

Daniel Moxon