Surprise F1 star to rival Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo for Red Bull 2025
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Sergio Perez is out of contract at the end of 2024 and Red Bull will assess their options for replacements, including the likes of Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo and new potential contender Carlos Sainz
Max Verstappen could be reunited with former team-mate Carlos Sainz when Sergio Perez’s contract expires.
The Mexican’s deal ends following the conclusion of the 2024 season. And Red Bull will be considering their options with after Perez struggled this season despite having the quickest car on the grid.
Despite the difficulties of going up against Verstappen, the seat would no doubt be wanted by most on the grid. Daniel Ricciardo has made it clear he wants to reclaim the seat he vacated five years ago. And Lando Norris is constantly linked with a Red Bull switch.
And it seems there may be another strong external candidate in the mix as well. That’s because, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Sainz’s long-term Ferrari future is looking uncertain.
Both the Italian team’s drivers are out of contract next December. But while Charles Leclerc is expected to accept the offer of a new five-year deal, the publication reports that Sainz will be offered a 12-month extension only – Ferrari apparently wanting to keep one of their seats open for a potential swoop for Norris themselves.
Sainz is a product of the Red Bull junior driver programme and made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso. He was team-mate to Verstappen, who went on to become the main man at Red Bull Racing while the Spaniard has forged his career elsewhere.
But it could prove to be a longer road to the same destination. Gazzetta also claims the Spaniard could be high on Red Bull’s list for Perez replacements this time next year.
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Leclerc and Sainz have been rather equally-matched in their three seasons as Ferrari team-mates to date. The Spaniard narrowly beat his team-mate in their first year together in a particularly eye-catching outcome.
Leclerc was undoubtedly the team’s main man in 2022 when they mounted a challenge for the title, though their push collapsed in the middle of the season. But it was still a strong year for Sainz who won an F1 race for the first time.
He followed that up with another victory this term, in Singapore, which made him the only non-Red Bull driver to taste victory in 2023. A lot of wretched luck across the final two race weekends allowed Leclerc, who finished strongly, to finish ahead in the championship, though Sainz more than held his own against his intra-team…
Read More: Surprise F1 star to rival Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo for Red Bull 2025 2023-12-04 18:32:00