Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Red Bull Racing have a conundrum to solve with their driver line-ups but have delayed making any final decision despite the opportune timing of the summer break.
After failing to finish on the podium since the Sprint Race in Miami, Sergio Perez survived a meeting about his future after the Belgian Grand Prix.
His current contract runs until at least the end of the 2025 F1 season, but significant improvements are needed if he’s to avoid becoming the latest Red Bull driver to see his time with the team come to an end prematurely.
READ MORE: Every 2024 Formula 1 driver’s contract and wages
The Race’s Scott Mitchell-Malm has shared his prediction for how he thinks the two Red Bull teams will line up next season.
Where Isack Hadjar fits into Red Bull’s driver line-ups if he wins the Formula 2 title
Max Verstappen appears set to stay put for now despite interest from Mercedes and his growing frustration with the Red Bull team given their rivals have closed the gap to them this season.
At RB, Yuki Tsunoda is signed up for 2025 after his strongest Formula 1 campaign to date and needs just 11 points from the final 10 race weekends to beat his previous record tally in one season.
His teammate Daniel Ricciardo is the only driver out of the quartet without a contract for next year but he could still earn a promotion or say goodbye to Formula 1 completely at the end of the season.
The fifth piece in the puzzle is Liam Lawson who Red Bull desperately want to hand a race seat for next year after his impressive cameo for AlphaTauri last year.
Helmut Marko says Lawson’s future will be decided by September which suggests he’s probably sticking around in 2025.
There’s a new driver entering the fray and complicating Red Bull’s lives even more next year and that’s Isack Hadjar.
The Frenchman looks set to win the Formula 2 championship and Mitchell-Malm believes he’ll be in the F1 paddock a lot more in 2025.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links
Isack Hadjar could earn promotion into Liam Lawson’s test driver role next season
Asked how the two teams’ driver line-ups will end up looking next year, Mitchell-Malm suggested: “In short, Perez will at most I think see out the 2024 season.
“I don’t think he’ll be kept on beyond that. If Daniel Ricciardo keeps up his progression as it was before the summer break, I suspect he’ll replace Perez at Red Bull Racing for 2025.
“That’ll open up a seat for Liam Lawson to slot in alongside Yuki Tsunoda and I think likely Formula 2 champion Isack Hadjar will get the full simulator, reserve driver, test driver role for the Red Bull and RB teams next year.
“So, it’ll all slot in fairly neatly, assuming of course Perez doesn’t come out after the summer break and suddenly be posting regular podium finishes, that will just complicate it all over again.”
Red Bull chief Helmut Marko is already a huge fan of Isack Hadjar
Hadjar’s record in F2 this season has been very impressive, winning four races and standing on the podium an additional three times.
He’s also suffered plenty of bad luck that’s prevented him from extending his 36-point lead in the championship even further.
Marko is a big fan of Hadjar’s and with RB set to be used more as a junior team in the future, that could play into the 19-year-old’s hands.
Hadjar was namechecked by Marko when talking about the next Verstappen which is a huge compliment in itself.
It was also suggested by Marko that Hadjar and F3 star Arvid Lindblad have Formula 1 quality although the British teenager will have to be even more patient than his senior colleague in the junior team.
Hadjar’s FP1 test at Silverstone wasn’t perfect but that won’t worry the team too much at this stage.
He has a bright future ahead of him and will be hoping to learn a lot more from Verstappen and co. if he moves one place up the pecking order at Red Bull next year.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
