Crimson Bull bosses are set to carry talks over the way forward for Sergio Perez as expectations develop that the Mexican might be changed in 2025.
Though Perez was handed a two-year contract extension in June, overlaying the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the 34-year-old has struggled with outcomes since then and continues to endure from poor type. Down, solely 9 factors from the final eight grands prix successfully value Crimson Bull the constructors’ championship.
Crimson Bull Racing Crew Principal Christian Horner mentioned Sky Sports activities F1 “We’ll sit down with Perez this week to mirror on the season” forward of Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
After exiting the season finale on the second lap, Perez admitted publicly for the primary time in an interview that he was discussing what occurs subsequent with the group to determine “what’s greatest for everybody shifting ahead.”
Perez had repeatedly insisted as of Sunday that he would proceed to take a seat subsequent to Max Verstappen subsequent season, saying: “We’ll see what occurs within the subsequent few days, I do not know what’s going to occur in the intervening time, I’ve The contract, I have been speaking to the group.
“This can be a case of discussing what’s greatest for everybody shifting ahead.”
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Highlights from the ultimate race of the 2024 Components 1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Horner reiterated after the sport that talks would happen this week.
“Clearly, these discussions might be between Checo (Perez) and the group,” Horner mentioned.
“Now that we’ve got concluded the season, we are going to sit down with him to mirror on the season and what clearly went mistaken and work collectively to determine the precise and applicable manner ahead.
“Checo has been an incredible servant to this group.”
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Perez believes he has good causes to resume contract with Crimson Bull as rumors of his potential departure proceed to develop
Who will succeed Perez?
If Crimson Bull and Perez determine to make a change, Liam Lawson is taken into account the more than likely candidate to step up from sister firm RB to switch him.
Yuki Tsunoda will check for Crimson Bull for the primary time within the playoffs in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, a prearranged outing promoted by Honda, the Japanese driver’s supporters and the group’s engine companions. Nevertheless, regardless of the 24-year-old Tsunoda being RB’s prime scorer over the previous two seasons, the check shouldn’t be seen as a harbinger of Tsunoda’s coveted promotion.
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Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda and Perez give their ideas on 2025 futures and whether or not they can safe Crimson Bull seats as resolution looms
Requested to evaluate Lawson’s six-race cameo at RB after the New Zealander changed Daniel Ricciardo at October’s United States Grand Prix, Horner mentioned: “Liam, in a difficult state of affairs, When you analyze what he did throughout this era, he did it very nicely.
“Yuki has finished an incredible job and if any resolution is made with Checo, they may clearly be the candidate we’re searching for.”
On this yr’s Constructors’ Championship, Horner has slipped from first to 3rd behind two groups, McLaren and Ferrari, whose drivers are nearer in competitiveness and factors scoring, Horner admitted. , his group’s second driver nearer to four-time champion Verstappen is essential in 2025.
“You possibly can see how essential it’s within the Constructors’ Championship for each drivers to attain factors collectively regularly,” he mentioned.
“Subsequent yr, Ferrari could have a robust line-up, McLaren could have a robust line-up and Mercedes could have an inexperienced driver in a single seat, so it is crucial for us that each drivers can ship. , and there’s no important hole.
Crimson Bull junior Isack Hadjar, who completed runner-up on this yr’s F2 championship on Sunday, would be the front-runner for the second RB spot ought to Lawson or Tsunoda transfer up.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit’s curiosity in Williams Racing’s Franco Colapinto has cooled in latest weeks and they’d have had to purchase out his contract at Grove Racing. Colapinto is predicted to return to Williams in 2025, with Carlos Sainz becoming a member of from Ferrari to companion Alex Albon.
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