Sergio Pérez is almost at the end of his contract as Red Bull decides to wait out the silly season before making a move. While Max Verstappen is the pride and joy of Red Bull, Sergio Perez did an amazing job in 2023, finishing second among the drivers. But although the end of the season went smoothly, that was not always the case.

With a few mid-season hiccups, Perez had made his future in Red Bull look a little difficult as Carlos Sainz also went out of contract after 2024. This brought veteran driver, Michael Bleekemolen, to talk about the state of Red Bull during an interview with F1Maximaal, where he spoke of Sainz as a better option.

The Red Bull Seat: Carlos Sainz Vs Sergio Perez

Currently, Sergio Perez is set to serve his contract in Red Bull for 2024, but with no extension on the contract as of yet, his future is hanging by a thread. Although he is one of the more promising drivers on the circuit, Bleekemolen had something to share about Red Bull’s stance in Formula 1.

Bleekemolen told F1Maximaal, “They won’t take a new driver. I don’t see a young talent happening.” After disregarding a rookie driver, he stated, “You always prefer to go for safety. When you talk about experienced men who are available, Carlos Sainz’s name quickly comes up.”

Bleekemolen vouched for Sainz and stated, “The Spaniard made his debut at Toro Rosso and therefore comes from Red Bull’s academy. It looks like they want to keep Pérez, but I think it’s better to take Sainz.” Bleekemolen further highlighted the problems Perez faced mid-season, especially during qualifying. He said, “It looks like they want to keep Pérez, but I think it’s better to take Sainz. Then you’re not eighth, but then you’re third.” According to Bleekemolen, Carlos Sainz would be a better pick for the Red Bull team once the contracts are up. Apart from Sainz, there are numerous other potential picks for Red Bull. Let’s look at a few.

Potential candidates to partner with Max Verstappen in 2025

As of right now, the Red Bull team is going through an internal crisis with Christian Horner being accused of inappropriate behavior. Once the dust settles down, the team will decide to keep or remove him from his position, depending on the verdict.

But once Red Bull has things going well for them, many candidates would love to drive for the winning team. Among them are Fernando Alonso, Alexander Albon, Pierre Gasly, Nico Hülkenberg, and Kevin Magnussen. With a plethora of drivers to choose from, Red Bulls management will have to single out the best candidate for their car.

Read More: With Christian Horner’s Exit Reportedly Inevitable, Has Sergio Perez Lost His Biggest Supporter and 2025 Red Bull Seat?

Although there are speculations around the circuit, all plans have been ceased until the Horner case gets resolved. Until then, we can wait and see how things play out on the tracks. That being said, do you think the Horner incident will take a toll on the performance of Red Bull as a unit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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