Red Bull will make a change to Max Verstappen’s teammate. According to “ESPN”, Sergio Pérez will leave the team at the end of the season, after the Abu Dhabi GP.
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Although Pérez has had his contract renewed for two seasons, the tendency is for Red Bull to break the contract with the driver to keep him as an ambassador for the team.
The reason for leaving is the Mexican’s poor performance this season. Pérez is only eighth in the Drivers’ World Championship, with 152 points. On the other hand, Max Verstappen, his teammate at Red Bull, was champion with 429 points.
Who will replace Pérez at Red Bull?
Also according to “ESPN”, two names emerge as main candidates: Japanese Yuki Tsunoda and New Zealander Liam Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo at RB Honda, Red Bull’s F1 satellite team, in the middle of this season.
Tsunoda is 12th in the Drivers’ World Championship, with 24 points. Lawson, who raced in just five F1 races this year, has four points and occupies 21st place.
Japanese Yuki Tsunoda has been in F1 since 2021, when he debuted for Alphatauri – the former name of RB Honda, his current team. That year, he finished a race in fourth place, his best in his career to date. If he finishes at least ninth in the Abu Dhabi GP, Tsunoda will have his best season in terms of points in the category.
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Liam Lawson made his F1 debut in 2023, replacing Daniel Ricciardo, who suffered a broken hand at the time. The driver participated in five races this season and achieved ninth place in the Singapore GP. In the current season, he once again replaced Ricciardo, who was released by RB Honda. He participated in the last five GPs and had his best places in the United States GP and the São Paulo GP, both finishing in ninth place.
What were the driver changes for the 2025 F1 season?
Sauber/Audi will swap the two drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto taking the place of Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou.
At Red Bull, four-time champion Max Verstappen’s team is looking for a replacement for Sérgio Pérez, who is expected to leave the team at the end of the season. There is, however, a doubt between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.
At Alpine, Jack Doohan takes over from Esteban Ocon. At Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton replaces Carlos Sainz. Haas will change both drivers: Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman replace Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
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Mercedes will place young Andrea Kimi Antonelli in place of Lewis Hamilton. At Williams, Carlos Sainz will be the driver alongside Alexander Albon.
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In addition to the teams that had changes, Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll – and McLaren – Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri – are expected to keep their drivers for next season.
As a result, the doubts remain with Red Bull and RB Honda, Red Bull’s satellite team. With Ricciardo’s departure, there is still no confirmation as to who the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda’s partner will be. There is a tendency that the vacancy will go to New Zealander Liam Lawson, who entered the car this season in place of Ricciardo, but confirmation has not yet been given by the team. If either of the two goes to the main team, Red Bull, it is not known who would be their replacement at RB Honda.
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Which drivers will be in Formula 1 2025?
- Alpine – Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan
- Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso e Lance Stroll
- Ferrari – Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
- Haas – Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman
- Sauber/Audi – Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto
- McLaren – Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
- Mercedes – George Russel and Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- RB – Yuki Tsunoda
- Red Bull – Max Verstappen
- Williams – Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz
