In February, when it was announced that Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, would be leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season, Carlos Sainz Jr. quickly became one of the most sought-after free agents in the market. He was immediately linked to a potential seat at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, particularly after Sergio Perez’s struggles towards the end of the 2023 season. However, Perez performed better in 2024 and secured a contract extension, which left Sainz with fewer options. Sainz ultimately found a seat with Williams, replacing Logan Sargeant, though the situation at Red Bull has since shifted.
As Perez’s performance continued to decline, rumors began circulating that Red Bull might reconsider their commitment to the Mexican driver. Perez, who has struggled to finish in the top five since May, is now reportedly set to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season. This opens up the second Red Bull seat once again, raising the possibility of Sainz joining the team.
Despite this, it appears unlikely that Sainz will make the move to Red Bull. The team’s management had reportedly considered replacing Perez earlier in the season, but the idea of bringing Sainz on board has been dismissed. Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto, who has impressed since replacing Sargeant at Williams, was briefly linked to a potential role at Red Bull, but his recent string of crashes has reduced the likelihood of that move.
There were also speculations about a potential deal between Red Bull and Williams that would see Sainz replace Perez, but that also seems off the table. Instead, Red Bull is likely to promote one of its junior drivers, with Liam Lawson being the frontrunner to take over Perez’s seat, alongside Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar. Colapinto, who had been considered for various roles, including at Sauber, is left without a seat for 2025, as Sauber’s second seat went to Gabriel Bortoleto, the F2 championship leader.
Once the official 2025 driver lineups are confirmed, the season will begin with the Australian Grand Prix in March, marking the start of another exciting Formula 1 year.
