Carlos Slim could back ‘daring’ Formula 1 driver in 2025 if Sergio Perez drops off the grid

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Sergio Perez earned his Red Bull seat in 2021 on merit. But he’s also been aided in his career by enormous backing from Mexico.

Perez started out in F1 with Sauber in 2011 and had the chance to join McLaren on the back of an impressive 2012 campaign. When that move failed, he returned to the midfield with Force India to rebuild his reputation.

He would score seven podiums with the team, which later became Racing Point, including a first race victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. However, the signing of Sebastian Vettel alongside Lance Stroll, the son of shareholder Lawrence, threatened to leave him without a seat.

But Perez unquestionably deserved to be in F1 and his performances also merited another shot at the front of the grid. He’s added five more Grand Prix wins to his record but has come under increasing pressure in the past 18 months or so.

The 34-year-old nearly lost his seat midway through the season, with Daniel Ricciardo poised to take over. Liberty Media and Carlos Slim helped Perez keep his drive by lobbying Red Bull, according to reports.

But that won’t be enough to secure his future long-term. And Perez is now under serious threat from Liam Lawson heading into 2025.

Franco Colapinto could benefit from Carlos Slim’s backing, Mike Hezemans says

Dutch driver Mike Hezemans thinks Red Bull should hire Lawson as Verstappen’s teammate next year. That would leave a vacancy at RB, which he feels Franco Colapinto ought to fill.

Hezemans reckons that Mexican tycoon Slim could transfer resources from Perez to Colapinto if the former drops off the grid. It would likely mark the end of Perez’s career, while the latter is only 21 years old.

He would be the only remaining Latin American representative on the grid, and his popularity is enormous after just four races. Colapinto has quadrupled F1 viewing figures in Argentina almost single-handedly.

However, as it stands, he’s without a seat for 2025. The Williams team are already committed to Alex Albon and marquee signing Carlos Sainz.

“Put Lawson in that Red Bull next year,” Hezemans told RacingNews365. “And if he goes to Red Bull, then Perez can go home and they have to put Franco Colapinto in the RB. That also makes sense, because he is an Argentinian and he can arrange sponsorship via Carlos Slim.”

The report states that Colapinto could receive ‘many millions from Slim. Forbes have estimated his net worth at £69bn.

The ‘whispers’ in the paddock about Franco Colapinto and Red Bull

Colapinto is an option for Sauber, who plan to go with youth over experience for Nico Hulkenberg’s partner. However, Audi, who will take over in 2026, don’t want to sign him if he’s still contracted to Williams.

The same will be true of Red Bull. But Helmut Marko could pay ‘a load of money’ to extricate him from his contract at Grove.

F1 paddock rumours suggest Red Bull’s interest in Colapinto is real. Dubbed ‘daring’ by Will Buxton on F1TV, he could potentially link up with Yuki Tsunoda at the junior outfit next season.

The F2 graduate has already scored points twice in a car that ranks eighth in the championship. He’s also been a match for Albon, a veteran of 100 Grands Prix and one of the highest-rated drivers in the midfield.