McLaren driver would be baffled if Red Bull overlook one option for 2025 season

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Red Bull still have to finalise both of their driver line-ups for the 2025 season. And naturally, there’s a direct link between the senior team and junior outfit RB.

Sergio Perez will be back under intense scrutiny when the season resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix. At a meeting after the Belgian GP, Christian Horner and co. decided to stick with him beyond the summer break.

But there’s no guarantee that he’ll see out the season. Red Bull could reassess the Perez situation after Singapore in four races’ time if he doesn’t improve.

And even if he makes it to Abu Dhabi, the winter will present another opportunity for a change. The 34-year-old will constantly be fighting to reach the next checkpoint if he can’t find consistency, even though he only signed a new contract in June.

The two most interested observers will be Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson. Team principal Horner doesn’t have confidence in Yuki Tsunoda, which makes them the only real contenders to replace Perez.

Remarkably, Ricciardo remains at risk of losing his RB seat at the same time. Helmut Marko wants to promote young talent again, and keeping the Australian seems to contradict that philosophy.

As such, Ricciardo’s F1 future could hinge on whether Perez improves. Lawson, meanwhile, is trying to force his way onto the grid after spending the past 18 months in a reserve role.

McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto would be baffled if Red Bull keep Daniel Ricciardo over Liam Lawson

Speaking on the Motorsport Brazil YouTube channel, McLaren development driver Gabriel Bortoleto offered his view on Red Bull’s dilemma. Bortoleto is currently racing in the Formula 2 championship.

That may be why he’s in favour of promoting Lawson at Ricciardo’s expense – he wants to see youngsters given a chance. He also feels that the 22-year-old should be rewarded for all the work he’s done behind the scenes.

The Brazilian says there are grounds to question Red Bull’s rationality if they stick with their current lineup instead. Lawson has only driven his five Grands Prix, having deputised for the injured Ricciardo in 2023, but the speed of his adaptation was impressive.

“RB?” he said. “It’s open, but we already know – is it Ricciardo there or is it Lawson? It’s kind of obvious.

“If they don’t put Lawson in, I don’t know what’s going on in their heads. I think that Lawson deserves it at the moment for having done all the development work for the team in recent years while he was unable to compete.”

Helmut Marko confirms when Red Bull will announce Liam Lawson plans amid Sergio Perez uncertainty

A contractual deadline is about to force Red Bull’s hand. Lawson can leave if he isn’t offered a seat by 1 September.

That means the Dutch GP – the last race before that deadline – could be decisive for Ricciardo. Lawson and his camp negotiated that clause because they didn’t want to be left without any alternatives.

He’ll have his eye on the remaining vacancies on the 2025 grid. Alpine have a seat open alongside Pierre Gasly but their existing reserve driver Jack Doohan is the favourite.

Audi is a more likely destination for Lawson, with the German manufacturer exploring a whole host of options. They’ve already confirmed Nico Hulkenberg as one of their two drivers.

Marko says Red Bull will make an announcement on Lawson next month, though it’s unclear whether that will come immediately after the September 1 cut-off. RB haven’t fielded a rookie for a full season since Tsunoda joined the grid in 2021.