Liam Lawson appears to be the frontrunner for a promotion to Red Bull Racing for the 2025 Formula 1 season, as the team’s interest in Franco Colapinto has cooled. Despite signing a two-year contract extension earlier this year, Red Bull is reportedly ready to part ways with Sergio Perez after another disappointing season. The team is expected to make a final decision on Perez’s future after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, with shareholders scheduled to meet the following Monday to discuss options for the second seat alongside Max Verstappen. This seat has been difficult to fill adequately since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2019.
Initially, Red Bull considered Williams’ stand-in driver, Franco Colapinto, as a potential candidate after he impressed in his mid-season replacement role for Logan Sargeant. Colapinto’s natural speed and poise under pressure caught the attention of Red Bull, which saw him as a possible solution for the vacant seat. However, Red Bull’s interest in Colapinto has waned following a series of crashes, particularly a severe 50G impact during qualifying in Las Vegas. These incidents raised concerns over Colapinto’s inexperience, making Red Bull reconsider the hefty eight-figure fee it would need to pay Williams to release him. Motorsport.com reports that Colapinto’s chances have all but disappeared, with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko acknowledging that he is “not very high on the list.”
Commercial backing from Argentina, which would help replace the sponsorship Perez brought from Mexico, had been another incentive to consider Colapinto, but Red Bull’s focus is now on finding a driver who can deliver consistent results. The team has suffered financially due to Perez’s struggles, including a drop in prize money and staff morale issues. With this in mind, Lawson has emerged as the preferred option over his more experienced teammate Yuki Tsunoda. While Tsunoda has shown speed and support from Honda, Red Bull has concerns over his consistency and ability to thrive under the team’s high-pressure environment. In contrast, Lawson has impressed with his reliability and maturity, especially when he filled in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo last year.
In addition to Lawson, Red Bull has its eye on F2 talent, including Isack Hadjar, who is battling for the F2 championship and will participate in testing for the team. Hadjar’s future with Red Bull remains uncertain, as he has yet to prove himself fully in F1 machinery. Meanwhile, Red Bull is also closely watching 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad, who will step up to F2 after a strong rookie season in F3. As Red Bull looks to its own talent pool for the 2025 season, Lawson appears to be the most likely candidate to secure the coveted second seat.
