Red Bull 2025 F1 driver decision will be made "much later in the year" (2024)
Red Bull already has Max Verstappen under contract for 2025, while Perez has impressed in the opening part of the 2024 season to ensure he is likely to retain his seat at the team.
Perez stated on Thursday that, given the dynamic nature of the 2025 driver market, he expected "to know my future in the coming weeks, because everything is moving quite fast. So I think it's important not to wait for too long."
In response to a question asking if Red Bull was close to firming up its plans for next season, team principal Horner replied in the negative.
"Not very [close], I'm afraid. It's incredible that we're at race five and there's so much talk already about drivers for next year. We're in a situation where we're very happy with our two drivers.
"But we don't need to make a final decision about the line-up until much later in the year. Obviously Max is on a long-term contract anyway, Checo out of contract this year, but he's been driving exceptionally well so far this season."
Horner understood Perez's desire for a swift resolution to contract talks for 2025, particularly as the Mexican endured much of 2023 under pressure through a string of poor performances during the middle period of the season.
However, Horner explained that he wished to determine whether Perez was able to maintain his form before the two parties could start to put pen to paper.
"Of course, he would like to make an announcement tomorrow, undoubtedly, when we as a team aren't in a particular rush.
"We're in a fortunate position where many drivers would obviously like to drive for the team. but we're happy with the pairing that we have.
"We just want to make sure that the level of consistency that Checo started with this season maintains. And in due course, we'll evaluate those options. But at this point in time, we're very happy with the lineup that we have."
Touching on the prospect of RB's Daniel Ricciardo, who had been earmarked as a possible Perez replacement should the Australian regather his momentum in F1, Horner noted that there was still time to turn things around.
Yuki Tsunoda, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, Daniel Ricciardo, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team
He also remarked that reserve driver Liam Lawson, who impressed while covering for an injured Ricciardo last season, was "champing at the bit" to get a race seat - but that priority was with the current race drivers.
"I think that it's very much in Daniel's hands. He needs to show the kind of head-turning form to make not only ourselves, but potentially others, take notice," Horner added.
"We're only at race five. This is a track that's gone well for him previously, he's got a sprint race as well, so it'll be interesting to see if he can really kick his season off here.
"Liam Lawson is champing at the bit to get an opportunity, but there's nothing preordained as to when and even if that would take place.
"The priority is for sure for the drivers that are in the race seats at the moment and we'll see how that pans out."
Among the other top teams, Red Bull has both Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen locked in with contracts for 2025, although the reigning three-time world champion's future is still far from clear as rifts within the team continue to cause doubt.
Nico Hülkenberg will depart Haas after two seasons and return to Sauber, with whom he last drove in 2013. He will be replaced by their reserve driver Oliver Bearman, who will step up from Formula 2, previously racing in the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for Ferrari.
For 2026, Red Bull and sister team RB will switch from Honda engines to power units developed by Red Bull Powertrains, built at Red Bull's Milton Keynes campus with input from partner Ford.
Daniel Ricciardo, currently tied with Red Bull Racing within the VCARB (RB) team, could potentially make a dramatic shift to Williams Racing for the 2025 season, according to F1 reporter and presenter Will Buxton.
Carlos Sainz, the driver Hamilton will replace at Ferrari, as well as reigning World Champion Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes' 17-year-old Italian sensation, are all believed to be candidates to partner George Russell in F1 2025.
F1 News: Charles Leclerc Clears Stance Amid Carlos Sainz 2025 Exit - "Ferrari Comes First" Charles Leclerc has opened up on his relationship with teammate Carlos Sainz, who will leave Ferrari after the 2024 season.
Lewis Hamilton will make a sensational move to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula One season on a multiyear contract, the Italian team confirmed on Thursday.
Sainz, who is set to be replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton in 2025, is still weighing up contract offers from Alpine, Williams and Audi, who are in the process of taking over the Sauber team.
Ferrari. One of the biggest driver market moves of recent times happened before the 2024 season had even started when it was confirmed that Lewis Hamilton would make the shock switch to Ferrari in 2025, bringing his long partnership with Mercedes to an end.
Sergio Perez's new contract means Red Bull has snubbed Carlos Sainz and left him assessing midfield options for his post-Ferrari future - with a decision likely to be made swiftly.
On the other side of the garage, Carlos Sainz's efforts to retain his seat came to nought as Lewis Hamilton will make a sensational switch from Mercedes to join Ferrari on a “multi-year” deal that begins in 2025.
With Perez confirmed alongside Verstappen for another two years and Hamilton joining Leclerc at Ferrari, Sainz is by far the highest profile driver without a seat in 2025.
SPIELBERG – Three-time defending Formula One champion Max Verstappen dispelled any lingering doubts about his immediate future by saying he will remain at Red Bull next season.
Honda continued to support the Red Bull-owned teams in 2022 and will do so until the end of 2025. Honda assembles the power units and provides trackside and race operation support. The power units remain Honda's intellectual property, and due to a development freeze, Red Bull Powertrains will not develop them.
For the 2024 Formula 1 season, there are four engine suppliers. Mercedes-Benz will supply engines for Mercedes, McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams. Honda will supply engines for Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri. Ferrari supply engines for its own team, Alfa Romeo and Haas.
A brave new world: Oracle Red Bull Racing unveiled their 2024 challenger, the RB20, and it's a radical evolution of the all-conquering RB19 that triumphed in 2023.
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