The timing of contract extension talks with Sergio Perez might mean that Red Bull could miss out on Carlos Sainz. Checo is in the final year of his current contract with the Milton-Keynes squad, which means that the Mexican driver is under quite a bit of pressure to deliver consistent performances if he wants to stay with the team. While it’s not yet certain whether Perez will keep his seat beyond 2024 or not, there has been a lot of speculation about who could replace him in 2025. While most of the discussions have been focused on within the Red Bull camp, Dr. Helmut Marko has recently revealed that they might actually recruit someone from outside, with the Spaniard being a favorite choice.

Most of the speculations have singled out Daniel Ricciardo as the perfect replacement for Sergio Perez because of his strong bond with Christian Horner. Some believe that Red Bull might swap them mid-season in 2024. However, the recent development at Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton‘s deal, and the availability of Carlos Sainz for the next season has sparked interest within the Red Bull camp for one of their former drivers.

Helmut Marko has not given up on Sergio Perez yet

While Red Bull may not admit it, Sergio Perez has been a comfortable number 2 driver for the team for the past 3 years. He even helped the team achieve its first 1-2 position in the drivers’ standings last season. According to a recent report from Kleine Zeitung, Dr. Helmut Marko, the team’s Motorsport Advisor, emphasized the importance of Perez maintaining his form, suggesting that a strong finish in the championship and securing wins could secure his seat for 2025. He praised Checo as a valuable team player despite acknowledging the difficulty of matching the pace of Max Verstappen.

Dr. Marko believes that being Verstappen’s teammate is both coveted and precarious, as no one has been able to challenge the Dutch driver consistently. And so, he wants to give Perez a chance to prove himself before extending the partnership between him and the Dutchman. However, Dr. Marko doesn’t rule out the possibility of recruiting a driver externally either if they need a replacement for Checo. Names like Alex Albon, currently with Williams, and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari have reportedly been mentioned many times in that regard.

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Marko is willing to wait until the summer break to make the final call about Checo. However, Sainz could be looking to sort out his future before that. Dr. Marko said, “Albon is not an issue for us. He has a contract until 2025 and Sainz probably wants to make a decision earlier than us,” which should be “after the summer break.“

Red Bull “Have Found Something” but Sergio Perez Won’t Survive Till 2024 End, Claims Dutch Racer

Perez wants to excel with Red Bull

Reflecting on his past season in a conversation with Lawrence Barretto, Perez emphasized the importance of understanding the team’s direction and making continual improvements throughout the year. With talks of contract renewals circling in the paddock, the Mexican wants to remain focused on the present, prioritizing performance over negotiations for his future in Formula 1.

And while Perez remains open to exploring his options, including potential talks with other teams, his primary goal is to make it work at Red Bull. “No, not yet,“ said Checo when asked if he had already spoken to other teams. “It’s important for myself to see where we start, how we are doing, how we are developing. I want to see that develop through the season. From my point of view, that’s the main priority this year,” he added.

Who do you want to see alongside Max Verstappen in 2025? Drop your predictions in the comments down below.