Max Verstappen’s three consecutive world titles have overshadowed a persistent problem within Red Bull. For a decade (2008-2018), driver management was one of the Austrian group’s strong suits. The junior program, led by Helmut Marko, consistently provided F1-ready talent like Vettel and Verstappen. But since then, something has gone wrong, though Max’s champagne-fueled success in recent years has kept the issue under wraps.
Max Verstappen effectively won the Constructors’ Championship solo in 2023 (575 points to Mercedes’ 409), while in the previous year, Sergio Perez’s 100 points were necessary to bridge the gap between Verstappen and Ferrari.
This season, however, due to increased technical balance, the problem has come to light. After 20 Grands Prix, Sergio Perez (with zero wins compared to Max’s seven) ranks only eighth in the driver standings, with just 41% of Verstappen’s points. The Constructors’ title has become a steep challenge as McLaren and Ferrari gain ground, pushing Red Bull to third place.
If these standings hold by the end of the season, much of the responsibility will lie with points lost by the second car, Sergio Perez’s. This drop could cost Red Bull around 25 million dollars—the difference between first and third places in the Concorde Agreement’s prize distribution.
Everything is surfacing. Despite running four cars for several years now, Red Bull faces the dual problem of not only being Max Verstappen-dependent but also lacking a young talent fit to partner Max. Currently (and it’s worth noting, as Marko often changes his mind), the top candidate to replace Checo is Liam Lawson, who returned to the car in Austin after almost a year away.
If the New Zealander joins Red Bull next season, it will be with only 11 Grands Prix of experience—a paradox, given Racing Bull’s primary role is to adequately prepare young drivers for the main team.
In the past, under Toro Rosso, things worked this way, but in recent years Marko’s pilot rotations have lacked a clear direction. Gut decisions (like hiring Nyck De Vries), second chances (bringing Daniel Ricciardo back), and mainly failed scouting for the junior team have marred the strategy. Talents like Piastri, Norris, Russell, and even younger prospects like Oliver Bearman and Kimi Antonelli have all slipped under Marko’s radar.
Three Reasons Red Bull is Interested in Colapinto
Recent news of contact between Red Bull and Williams over Franco Colapinto has sparked interest. The Argentine’s F1 debut has been impressive enough to catch Audi’s attention, with inquiries about his contract status. But Red Bull has specific reasons for its interest in Colapinto. The first is the potential early termination of Perez’s contract, which would create the need to find a fourth driver for the “Red Bull family” alongside Verstappen, Tsunoda, and Lawson.
The second reason involves other considerations. Cutting ties with Perez risks losing some financial support. Checo is a major star in Mexico, where 60% of Red Bull’s merchandise is sold, surpassing even that of world champion Max Verstappen.
Numerous Red Bull sponsors hail from this region, and the team’s main sponsor (tech giant Oracle) came on board largely due to a push from its Mexican branch. In this context, letting Perez go presents a complex problem beyond a standard driver change. However, the decision seems imminent, with last weekend’s events indicating an irreversible breakdown in Sergio’s relationship with the team.
This is where Franco Colapinto’s figure fits well. His entry into the Red Bull family could soften South America’s and Mexico’s reaction to Perez’s departure. Last weekend, it became clear that the 400,000 fans at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit embraced Franco Colapinto, adding to the growing fanbase in Argentina and other South American countries. Financially, signing Colapinto away from Williams could prove beneficial for Red Bull.
The third reason is the pressing search for a teammate for Verstappen. Lawson is the first candidate, but with limited experience, there’s always the risk of another Pierre Gasly situation, who was demoted in 2019 after just 12 Grands Prix due to lackluster results.
Five years ago, Red Bull had Alexander Albon as a backup; next year, Franco Colapinto could play that role if Lawson falters. But first, there’s the negotiation with Williams. To release Colapinto, it’s likely that James Vowles will set a high price tag (some estimate 20 million dollars), enough to ease any future regrets. The game, however, is still open.
The only certainty is that, after five Grands Prix (two of which he finished in the points), a young driver known only to a select few until mid-August is now at the center of attention, coveted by three F1 teams.
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