Martin Brundle urges F1 team to ‘release’ driver Audi wants to partner Nico Hulkenberg

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Martin Brundle has urged a Formula 1 team to either offer their young driver a full-time seat on the 2025 grid or release them, amid Audi holding talks about a move to Sauber.

The field is really starting to take shape for next season following Haas signing Esteban Ocon to join Oliver Bearman. Only five seats remain to be confirmed on the grid with drives up for grabs at Mercedes, Alpine, Williams, Visa Cash App RB and Sauber, and possibly at Red Bull.

Each of the aforementioned teams have young drivers in their ranks itching to earn a seat on the Formula 1 grid. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is in the conversation to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, too. Similarly, Jack Doohan might graduate into F1 with Alpine to fill Ocon’s void.

Martin Brundle wants Red Bull to either promote or release Liam Lawson

Technically, Red Bull locked their line-up down this June when the team gifted Sergio Perez a contract extension. But the Mexican’s woeful form of late has created lots of doubts. Helmut Marko has also confirmed that Red Bull will decide Perez’s future during F1’s summer break.

Red Bull are likely to decide between a return to Milton Keynes for Daniel Ricciardo or offer their academy driver, Liam Lawson, the promotion to replace Perez if they fire the Mexican. Giving Ricciardo the nod will also create a vacancy at Visa Cash App RB that Lawson may fill.

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

But if Red Bull decide against giving Lawson a seat somewhere in Formula 1, Brundle feels it is time that they cut the 22-year-old free. The New Zealander impressed during his stand-in performances across five rounds for Ricciardo in 2023 after the 35-year-old broke his hand.

“They’ve got to give Lawson a chance or release him to go somewhere else,” Brundle said on Sky Sports F1 (27/7, 14:30).

Liam Lawson has held talks with Audi about joining Sauber in 2025

If Red Bull do decide against giving Lawson a spot in F1, he could still find a seat at Sauber as Audi admires the Kiwi. Lawson has even held talks with Audi about joining Sauber in 2025 as he wants a backup plan. Red Bull cannot stop Lawson leaving after the start of October, too.

Lawson will be free to sign with another Formula 1 team after the end of September. Yet the recent changes at Sauber with Mattia Binotto taking over from Andreas Seidl can complicate the Kiwi’s interest in joining Nico Hulkenberg at the Hinwil, Switzerland natives next season.

Yet Brundle could see Red Bull grant his wish, but not in a way that can thrill Audi as Lawson could be about to return to the F1 grid. The expectation at Red Bull is that Lawson will drive in the Dutch Grand Prix for either the factory team or RB, depending on which driver is axed.

It is most probable that Lawson will replace Ricciardo at Zandvoort, though, as Red Bull were underwhelmed with the Kiwi’s speed in a recent test at Silverstone. He got behind the wheel of the RB20 after the British GP but was two-tenths of a second off the time Red Bull sought.