Red Bull should act now and move to replace Sergio Perez with either Fernando Alonso or Carlos Sainz for the 2025 F1 season.
This is the opinion of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who believes the driver market is currently in a “hot phase” and there is no time to waste.
Red Bull asks Perez to be removed as Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz are available
Despite a strong start to the season, finishing second behind teammate Max Verstappen in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Perez's future is uncertain with his current contract with Red Bull set to expire at the end of 2024.
Perez insisted ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix that it was “only a matter of time” before he begins new contract negotiations with Red Bull, insisting both sides are “satisfied” with each other.
However, Red Bull could sign Sainz, who comes from the team's prestigious driver academy, in 2025 after losing his Ferrari seat to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, with a number of alternatives available. Players are considered.
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Meanwhile, reports this week claim that Alonso is “pushing really hard” to join Red Bull next season, with the two-time title winner expiring his contract with Aston Martin at the end of this season. .
Red Bull have frequently claimed they are willing to wait until they finalize their 2025 driver line-up, but former Williams driver Schumacher has urged the team to act now as there are many attractive options. .
He told Sky Germany: “I do not at all believe that the decision at Red Bull will only be taken in the summer.
“These are hot times and Sainz is on the market.
“It has to be done now. Mr. Perez is the candidate who has to vacate the cockpit.
“Alonso is still on the market too. That's why Red Bull has to make a decision now.”
After qualifying, long-time Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who was photographed shaking hands with Sainz at Friday's Suzuka race, said he believed the Ferrari driver was “a name to consider” for 2025. There's no doubt about it,” he admitted.
Sainz's return to Red Bull will reunite him with Verstappen, who reportedly had a tense relationship with Toro Rosso's junior team in the 2015/16 season, ahead of Verstappen's promotion to the first team.
Sainz spent a further 18 months at Toro Rosso before leaving Red Bull for good, joining Ferrari in 2021 after stints at Renault and McLaren.
Schumacher, who had already missed out on Sainz's promotion to Red Bull, feels the 29-year-old is not at the top of Marko's shortlist when looking to replace Perez.
He said: “As far as Dr Helmut Marko is concerned, I don't think Sainz will be the first priority because he's already been let go once.
“At the time he basically traded him for Max because he thought Max was clearly the better driver.
“So if Dr. Marco makes a decision, it's going to be difficult for Carlos.”
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