Jacques Villeneuve: “People have been saying for months that Sergio Perez will be out after the next GP”. Jacques Villeneuve reflects on Red Bull considering to replace Sergio Perez with Franco Colapinto.

Sergio Perez’s crisis and rumors about Franco Colapinto
Sergio Perez’s disappointing performances this Formula One season, particularly during the recent American tour, have fueled persistent rumors about a potential departure from Red Bull, despite his two-year contract with the Anglo-Austrian team for the upcoming seasons. Threatening Max Verstappen’s teammate is Franco Colapinto, who debuted mid-season with Williams and has delivered two points-finishing performances that have drawn considerable attention.

Red Bull has been especially impressed by the young Italo-Argentine driver, to the point that Team Principal Christian Horner visited the Williams hospitality at Interlagos to discuss matters with James Vowles. Franco Colapinto’s future has thus become one of the most talked-about topics leading up to the Las Vegas GP. However, Jacques Villeneuve, still remembered as Williams’ last world champion, has stepped in to defend the Mexican driver.

In defense of Sergio Perez
The Canadian, in an interview with Grosvenor Sport, expressed his belief that Perez will remain with Red Bull in 2025, urging people to put an end to the speculation about Franco Colapinto taking his place: “Colapinto deserves a racing seat, but there might not be one available,” he explained. “Everyone keeps saying he’ll replace Perez, but Sergio Perez is there, and he’s under contract. People have been saying for 10 months now that Perez will be out after the next race. Stop saying it. He has a contract.”

Jacques Villeneuve also argued that there are no valid reasons to end Red Bull’s relationship with #11, citing the sponsors Sergio Perez brings and the risk of failing to find a driver who could perform better alongside Max Verstappen: “He brings sponsors and stability to the team, and Verstappen is happy with him,” Jacques Villeneuve continued. “Who knows how much of the gap is due to Perez being a bit lost right now—which can happen—or to Verstappen being so extraordinary. If you put another driver in who doesn’t perform better, what have you achieved? They know internally because they have other drivers in the Red Bull Junior Team. The purpose of the Red Bull Junior Team isn’t to put Colapinto in the top cars but to develop drivers for those cars.” – the former Formula 1 driver concluded.