Formula 1: Shock Red Bull switch ruled out for Ferrari driver
As a long-time Formula 1 enthusiast with countless hours spent poring over race results and team dynamics, I can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu regarding Carlos Sainz Jr.’s career trajectory. The man seems to be perpetually linked with top teams only to find himself settling for the less glamorous seats. It’s almost as if he’s playing a game of musical chairs and the music never stops!
In February, when it became known that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was departing Mercedes to race with Ferrari in the 2025 Formula 1 season, Carlos Sainz Jr. quickly emerged as one of the most sought-after free agents, arguably even the top overall free agent available in the market.
Initially, he was associated with Red Bull’s second driver position next to the four-time consecutive world champion Max Verstappen, due to Sergio Perez’s poor performance at the end of the 2023 season. However, Perez began strongly in 2024 and renewed his contract, leaving Sainz with no choice but to accept Logan Sargeant’s (later Franco Colapinto’s) seat at Williams instead.
However, with a further drop in performance, it’s reported that Perez will depart from Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season. This leaves the second Red Bull seat vacant once more, according to reliable sources.
Carlos Sainz Jr. still not joining Red Bull
Before it was officially confirmed that Perez would leave, there were whispers suggesting that Red Bull might be reconsidering their stance towards the 34-year-old Mexican due to his consistent drop in performance. In fact, he hasn’t managed to complete a race in the top five since early May.
Although Max Verstappen leads the world championship by 80 points, having tripled the number of wins of his closest competitors this season, Red Bull finds itself in third place in the constructor standings and out of title contention. Teammate Sergio Perez is currently eighth in points, which represents the poorest performance for a champion’s teammate in over three decades.
Franco Colapinto has been performing well since he replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams recently, but since the second seat at Williams is already filled by Sainz for the 2025 season, there might not be a spot available for Colapinto in the team next year, according to James Vowles.
It had been speculated that Colapinto might take over from Perez, or even join RB as a potential successor for Perez, but these suggestions were swiftly dismissed, especially in light of his recent series of accidents.
But an interesting suggestion was floated that perhaps Williams could work out a deal with Red Bull to have Red Bull bring in Sainz as Perez’s replacement, opening up a seat for Colapinto and thus keeping him not only within the Williams family but on the grid for 2025 – and without needing to loan him out elsewhere.
That, however, will not happen.
It seems Red Bull is planning to use RB instead of Perez next year, and Liam Lawson is considered the leading candidate over Yuki Tsunoda. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar, one of Red Bull’s junior drivers, is expected to take up the vacant RB seat, effectively leaving Colapinto without a drive for the 2025 season.
Colapinto was also rumored for Sauber’s second driving position alongside Nico Hulkenberg, but that spot ended up being given to Gabriel Bortoleto. Bortoleto is currently leading the Formula 2 championship by a slim margin of 0.5 points over Hadjar, with only this weekend’s races in Abu Dhabi left on the 2024 schedule.
After Red Bull and RB finalize their teams for next year, the driver lineup for the 2025 Formula 1 season should be all set (except for any unexpected alterations). The season is slated to commence on Sunday, March 2 with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit. At this point, ESPN hasn’t finalized their broadcast schedule for the 2025 season.
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2024-12-04 14:32