Could Red Bull match the times of its two world champions in the final line-up?According to Helmut Marko, this will not happen.
Once back, Red Bull has some important decisions to make in the driver market when it comes to forming its line-up for 2025. His fears about Max Verstappen’s departure seem to have dissipated, but his future teammate is yet to be decided, as Sergio Perez struggles to secure a new contract.
Perez is facing big festivals for that second Red Bull seat, such as 2024 Australian Grand Prix winner and former Red Bull programme driver Carlos Sainz, while Yuki Tsunoda is also impressing at the start of the season with the junior RB team.
But one reason now excluded from the festival is Red Bull’s four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, while Marko dismissed the hypothesis that the two stars who graduated from Red Bull’s program, Verstappen and Vettel, could shape their lineup for 2025.
When oe24 presented him with rumours about Vettel’s return to Red Bull, Marko replied: “Vettel is coming to us?No, this is not an option. “
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Another driver who could be fit to return to Red Bull is Alex Albon. The Thai driver struggled with Verstappen after his promotion to Red Bull after just one season in F1, but has been inspired since his return to the grid with Williams in 2022.
Marko has earned a new rumour that Red Bull team principal Christian Horner needs the Thai look of Red Bull in order for Albon to be world champion with them, a project that would, of course, first mean re-signing Albon.
And that’s where Marko sees the obstacle, as he believes Albon’s deal with Williams probably won’t close until the end of 2025.
“Albon would have to be in our car for that to happen,” Marko said in reaction to the speculation. “But he has a contract until the end of 2025 [with Williams]. “
And all that said, Perez rarely looks vulnerable to a replacement at the moment, having played his part in three Red Bull one-two finishes in four races to kick off the 2024 F1 campaign.
He also showed a marked improvement in qualifying last time out at Suzuka to come within a fraction of snatching pole from Verstappen.
However, Marko is wary of acting too soon, as he believes that rewarding Perez with a multi-year contract may cause him to take his foot off the gas.
Asked if Perez was an option for Red Bull in 2025, Marko replied: “Everything is an option.
“Our team is working very well right now. If he has a secure two-year contract, I would possibly let him go. “
The return of the Chinese Grand Prix marks the next step in the 2024 F1 calendar, as Red Bull won the race twice, most recently with Daniel Ricciardo in 2018.
The Chinese Grand Prix has been held since 2019 due to the effects of the global pandemic.
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