As interest in Franco Colapinto wanes, Liam Lawson has emerged as the leading candidate to secure a Red Bull seat for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Although Red Bull extended Sergio Perez’s contract by two years earlier this year, the Mexican driver’s recent struggles have led the team to lose confidence in his ability to recover his form. Strong indications suggest that Red Bull will part ways with Perez after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leaving the second seat alongside Max Verstappen up for grabs.
Following the Abu Dhabi race, Red Bull shareholders will meet to make a decision regarding the long-controversial second seat, which has remained unfilled since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure after the 2020 season.
While Colapinto had been seen as a potential option due to his impressive pace and stamina since replacing Logan Sargeant, recent performances have caused Red Bull to reconsider. The 21-year-old Argentine driver’s crashes in Brazil and Las Vegas, which exposed gaps in his experience, have led Red Bull to reassess his candidacy. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, confirmed to in Qatar that Colapinto is no longer “very high up on the list.”
Red Bull had initially viewed Colapinto as a potential commercial asset, hoping that he could replicate the support Perez brought from Mexico by providing similar backing from Argentina. However, the team’s frustrations with Perez’s form combined with a loss of prize money and reduced employee bonuses after dropping to third in the Constructors’ Championship have shifted the focus back to performance. Marko explained that Red Bull will prioritize criteria such as consistency, points-scoring potential, and immediate impact over purely commercial considerations.
In this context, Liam Lawson has emerged as the frontrunner. The 22-year-old New Zealand driver has impressed Red Bull with his consistency, maturity, and ability to contribute to the team’s development. Red Bull believes Lawson fits the bill as a driver who can consistently score points, helping the team maintain a strong position behind Verstappen.
While Yuki Tsunoda has made strides in terms of pace and maturity over the last couple of seasons, questions remain about his consistency and ability to handle pressure. These doubts have placed Lawson ahead of Tsunoda and Colapinto in Red Bull’s pecking order.
Another factor in Red Bull’s decision-making process is the development of their younger talents. Isack Hadjar, currently competing for the Formula 2 championship, is another name in the mix. Hadjar will replace Verstappen in the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and will showcase his potential in the end-of-season tests. Hadjar’s strong performances have made him a candidate for a future seat at Red Bull.
In addition to Hadjar, Arvin Lindblad, the promising 17-year-old driver who impressed in F3, is another name closely monitored by Red Bull. Lindblad will step up to F2 next season, and the team will be keeping a close eye on his development.
As the 2025 season approaches, it seems increasingly likely that Liam Lawson will be the one to fill the vacant seat at Red Bull, with the team prioritizing performance and consistency over purely commercial factors.
