2025 Updates on Lawson Promised by Red Bull's Marko

Red Bull’s Marko endorses Pérez for 2024, hints at future plans for Lawson.

Helmut Marko, the motorsport advisor for Red Bull, has outlined why the team has chosen to retain Sergio Pérez for the remainder of the season. The Austrian revealed that confidence in the Mexican driver has been bolstered following his performance at Spa, and given the nature of the tracks in the latter half of the season.

“Sergio Perez will also be in the Red Bull Racing car post-summer break, as we now have races on circuits where he performed well last year, and we are banking on stability,” Marko stated, noting that there was no better alternative.

“He has consistently delivered strong performances, and he was also very quick last Saturday, securing third place at the race weekend in Spa. Pérez does not need to speed up, but to become more consistent, and given the alternatives, he remains our best solution.”

However, he refuted claims that Liberty Media intervened to save Pérez and support the Mexican Grand Prix: “Reports that his stay is due to Liberty Media’s desire to have him race in Mexico are untrue. They certainly want him to participate in his home race, but our driver choice is not influenced by Liberty’s intentions.”

There remains, however, an unresolved question for the 2025 season. Max Verstappen will be with Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda will race for RB F1, and Pérez is supposed to be with Red Bull, but his position is under scrutiny. Liam Lawson might inherit his seat, though this choice would be a gamble, and Marko promises updates soon on him and Isack Hadjar.

“We will announce what will happen with Liam Lawson in September. The decision to allow him to gain additional Formula 1 mileage at Imola has been in the pipeline for some time. Even if the competition wishes to loan him out, he is not available for that.”

“Our Formula 2 driver, Isack Hadjar, won his fourth victory in the lower Formula 1 category at Spa. He clearly has the potential for Formula 1. We will see how things progress, but he will certainly play a role. It may be that, like Lawson, he will spend a year as a test and simulation driver.”