Red Bull’s three-man shortlist to drive alongside Max Verstappen in 2025

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Red Bull may have officially got two drivers signed up for the 2025 Formula 1 season but nothing is quite that straightforward in the driver’s market, especially for the Austrian team.

Max Verstappen has a long-term deal to race for Red Bull although that hasn’t stopped him from being linked to some of the team’s closest rivals.

Mercedes would love to hire Verstappen and Adrian Newey’s latest move was enough for Martin Brundle to suggest that Verstappen could end up at Aston Martin one day.

There isn’t a seat available for Verstappen elsewhere for 2025 so he’s staying put for at least another year but the same can’t be said for his teammate Sergio Perez.

Clauses in Perez’s contract mean Red Bull could release him at any time although after offering him a stay of execution during the summer break, it appears as though he’s going to see out the rest of the season.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

However, a report from Motorsport Italia suggests that two more drivers alongside Perez are in the frame to race for Red Bull in 2025.

Red Bull have six drivers to fit into four seats next year and Daniel Ricciardo is the only active driver yet to sign a deal for 2025.

He could still end up earning a promotion during the winter or fall off the grid entirely, while current F2 leader Isack Hadjar is also in the frame for a surprising call-up to the team.

Red Bull have a three-driver shortlist to partner with Max Verstappen next season

The report from Motorsport talks about how many rookies are already confirmed to be on the grid next year.

Mercedes have confirmed Kimi Antonelli, Alpine will run Jack Doohan and Haas are handing an early debut to Oliver Bearman in Baku after Kevin Magnussen’s ban.

There are two seats left to fill and everyone is expecting Liam Lawson to race for RB in 2025 to take part in his first full season after last year’s AlphaTauri cameo.

Sauber could give Gabriel Bortoleto his chance which would mean a quarter of the grid will be new drivers.

The report mentions that Red Bull now face an ‘internal’ choice to decide who will partner Verstappen next year.

Alongside Perez and Ricciardo, they suggest that Hadjar is in contention for arguably an even higher pressure move than Antonelli is preparing for.

Jolyon Palmer raves about Isack Hadjar with F2 championship on the line

The previous few seasons have seen a logjam of the best drivers in Formula 2 struggling to earn a place on the F1 grid.

Oscar Piastri is the last champion to make that final step, but he still had to wait on the sidelines for a year and switch teams for that chance.

Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire are both waiting for their opportunity and unless Sauber promote their reserve driver, it appears as though their time has passed.

READ MORE: Helmut Marko namechecks 19-year-olf F2 star when asked about the ‘next Max Verstappen’

Hadjar should theoretically be in a much stronger position with Red Bull having a junior team in the form of RB to blood their best youngsters in the sport.

Lawson is next in line for that position and Hadjar is much more likely to be the reserve driver for both teams in 2025 rather than immediately joining Verstappen.

Red Bull are on the back foot at the moment and with Perez and Ricciardo both failing to deliver what’s expected of them, Hadjar could be offered a place on the grid sooner rather than later.