Red Bull is exploring their possibilities for the 2025 driver lineup. Max Verstappen is undoubtedly locked in, while Sergio Perez’s future remains unknown.
Mercedes wants Verstappen to replace Lewis Hamilton, but no matter how hard Toto Wolff tries, it is doubtful that he will make the switch. Verstappen’s contract runs until 2028, after all.
However, Perez is fighting to prove his worth. He entered the year under enormous pressure, having finished 290 points behind Verstappen in the previous year’s championship.
The Mexican won only two Grands Prix with what was statistically the most dominant car in F1 history. To make matters worse, he has won none of the last 18 races.
Perez even faced the possibility of losing second place in the rankings to Hamilton, but eventually saw the Mercedes driver off. He’s second again this season, 25 points behind Verstappen and nine ahead of Charles Leclerc.
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So far, the 34-year-old has done the majority of the work, placing second to Verstappen three times and earning four podium finishes. He barely finished fifth in Australia after the Dutchman retired, but a stuck visor tear-off hampered his car’s performance.
Last weekend in China, Perez qualified on the top row alongside Verstappen for the second race in a row. However, Lando Norris used a frenetic safety car time to sneak ahead, and Perez was unable to catch him.
Christian Horner has been happy with the former Sauber driver’s progress during the winter. He even compared it to Damon Hill’s pre-championship run in 1996.
Ralf Schumacher pushes Red Bull and Mercedes to consider the veteran driver.
Red Bull’s range of options to Perez appears to be quite short right now. Helmut Marko said that the team will ‘had to’ examine free agent Carlos Sainz, but he may not want to compete alongside Verstappen again.
They’re also interested in Norris, who only signed a long-term contract with McLaren in the winter. Meanwhile, Alex Albon may return, but most likely in 2026.
Given the circumstances, Sky Germany’s Ralf Schumacher has asked them to consider Nico Hulkenberg. Schumacher believes Hulkenberg’s strong relationship with Verstappen will benefit him as he considers a surprise switch to either Mercedes or Red Bull.
He remarked, “We must not forget that there are currently two good drivers on the market, as well as one who speaks German. Nico Hülkenberg is available at Audi, Mercedes, and maybe Red Bull, as he is a close buddy of Max. Carlos Sainz [is also available], and Sebastian Vettel is in the back.”
What Nico Hulkenberg said about joining Audi
Hulkenberg has had a quiet, solid season at Haas. He finished in the points in three of the first five Grands Prix (10th twice and ninth once for a total of four) and advanced to Q3 twice.
Only Yuki Tsunoda (seven) had a greater tally among the drivers from the bottom five teams in the standings. The 36-year-old has been Haas’ fastest and most productive driver, outqualifying Kevin Magnussen three times and accounting for 80% of the team’s points.
One thing he might offer Mercedes and Red Bull is extensive experience. He has now started 208 Grands Prix during a 14-year period, placing him among the all-time top 20.
Of course, Hulkenberg has the terrible distinction of competing in the most races without achieving a podium finish. However, in his defence, he has spent his entire career as midfield machinery.
Given his age and relative lack of star power, he would most likely be a stopgap before a long-term deal. However, for a driver who had been out of F1 as recently as 2022, a move to Red Bull would constitute a significant reversal.
The most likely outcome remains a return to Sauber, which will become Audi in 2025. When David Croft inquired about the rumours, he merely grinned and remarked, ‘we’ll see’.