Franco Colapinto told his potential move to Red Bull in 2025 would be ‘painful’ for the ‘entire family’

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Visa Cash App RB have the final seat that needs filling for the 2025 Formula 1 season, but the situation surrounding Red Bull is making it difficult to tell who will race with the team next year.

Liam Lawson was drafted in to replace Daniel Ricciardo for the remainder of the 2024 season from the United States Grand Prix onwards and is auditioning for a full-time seat with RB next year.

In his time races so far, the Kiwi driver has scored points twice, finishing ninth on his return to F1 in Austin and last time out at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Lawson is also being considered for the second Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen as Sergio Perez has desperately struggled to perform in the RB20.

The Milton Keynes-based squad seem to be growing impatient with the Mexican’s lack of results, certainly leaving them wondering why they offered the 35-year-old a new deal until at least 2025. It is believed that Red Bull could axe Perez, with rumours suggesting it could even be before the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Lawson is in the ‘perfect’ scenario at Red Bull after beating Perez in the last two races. The 22-year-old is believed to be the favourite to replace the veteran, but his RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda is also a candidate for the promotion.

Franco Colapinto has recently emerged as an option after his impressive performances with Williams in 2024. Red Bull have reportedly offered £15.5 million to Williams for Colapinto, with Christian Horner confirming the team’s interest in the Argentine in Sao Paulo.

Franco Colapinto getting a 2025 seat over Isack Hadjar would be ‘painful’ for Red Bull

Speaking with RacingNews6365, Aaron Deckers discussed the possible line-ups for Red Bull and RB for 2025, with the Dutch journalist stating that Horner is ‘fully committed’ to bringing Colapinto to the team.

The 21-year-old has had no previous affiliation to Red Bull at all in his career, and the team do have several drivers already in their setup that are eager to get their chance in F1. Formula 2 talent Isack Hadjar is fighting Sauber-bound Gabriel Bortoleto for the title, with the Frenchman being just four and a half points behind the Brazilian with two rounds to go.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Williams driver Franco Colapinto with praise to stats

With Perez potentially heading out the door and one of the RB drivers set for a promotion to the main Red Bull team, Hadjar will be watching the situation and hopefully Horner and Helmut Marko decide to promote from within and give the 19-year-old an arguably deserved chance in the pinnacle of motorsport.

According to Deckers, Colapinto getting the seat over Hadjar would be ‘painful’ for Red Bull, as it would again that their system in their academy ‘doesn’t work.’

“I think it will be Verstappen and Lawson at Red Bull, and that Tsunoda will probably drive alongside Colapinto,” he said.

“Because, yes, in my opinion, Horner is really fully committed to Colapinto and therefore, Hadjar, he will not be pushed by [the] Red Bull Academy and that, as you say, is of course painful for the entire Red Bull family in racing because the entire system, it doesn’t work.”

How likely is it that Franco Colapinto joins Red Bull?

The Red Bull situation is an extremely complex one. While Red Bull are interested in Colapinto, the Argentine’s F1 future likely rides on whether the team opt to sack Perez, thus creating a possible opening at both Red Bull and RB.

Red Bull are notorious for being a operation that makes cut-throat decisions, putting drivers under pressure and reliving them of their duties mid-season. Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and most recently Daniel Ricciardo have suffered this fate over the years.

The Milton Keynes-based squad are also renowned for not giving their junior drivers an opportunity in F1 and instead signing drivers with no connection to the team – Nyck de Vries being the prime example of this, as he joined AlphaTauri in 2023 off the back of an impressive debut with Williams at the Italian Grand Prix the year prior.

History could well strike again in 2025 as Hadjar could be snubbed of a race seat ahead of Colapinto. While the Argentine has no doubt proven he is worthy of a full-time assault at F1, the Frenchman will be left feeling overlooked given that he is already in the Red Bull setup and was ahead of Colapinto in F2 when he was promoted by Williams.