Red Bull believe they have ‘found a solution’ to Sergio Perez problem after ‘sniffing around’ rival driver

Follow us on Google Discover

It’s common knowledge that Red Bull have failed to find a true number two driver for years now, and it has come time for them to find yet another.

The likes of Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and now Sergio Perez have all been and gone, without any of them ever really challenging the great Max Verstappen.

It looks set to cost them this season, with Perez’s poor performances contributing to a lower constructors’ championship standing – a trophy that looks set to end up in the hands of McLaren or Ferrari.

However, looking forward to finding the Mexican’s replacement, there was a major development in last week’s United States Grand Prix that has put a smile back on the team’s faces.

Red Bull have ‘found a solution’ to Sergio Perez problem – Liam Lawson

For a while, Red Bull have been hesitant to replace Perez, not only for the marketing value he brings to the team but also on a performance basis.

They believed it was entirely possible that someone could come into the team and do worse than that Mexican, creating an even bigger problem.

With the emergence of Liam Lawson again, who performed excellently last week, Joe Saward wrote in his Green Notebook that the Red Bull mood appears to have lifted.

READ MORE: O’Ward makes ‘curious’ Mexico City GP claim amid Perez statement

“Let us wait until the end of the year to see what happens in 2025 but Liam Lawson did a super job for VCARB in Austin and the joy the Red Bull folk seemed to me to be related to the fact that perhaps they feel they have found a solution to their problem.

“They may also have found a solution to the vacancy that a departing Lawson might create at VCARB, as Franco Colapinto is doing a great job for Williams and he has no drive in 2025, as the team is committed to Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.”

What are the requirements for Lawson to graduate to Red Bull?

It’s pretty clear for now that if Lawson can achieve two things at each of the final five races of the 2024 season, he will bag himself a Red Bull drive for 2025.

The first of those is to beat teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who is also competing for the seat and has been waiting in the wings for a very long time.

READ MORE: Red Bull targeting exciting swoop for ‘world-class’ driver to partner Max Verstappen in 2026

The Japanese driver doesn’t let up very easily and will be a feisty contender on the track, even though the two are fighting for the same cause.

Secondly, scoring points – proving that he has the consistency and dependability that a team like Red Bull will demand from him.

It would also be incredibly handy in Visa Cash App RB’s pursuit of sixth in the constructors’ standings, which they relinquished to Haas last weekend.