P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull has conceded the team “can’t afford” to have Sergio Perez languish so far behind Max Verstappen as it anticipates a tighter F1 title fight in 2025.
Red Bull’s competitiveness has significantly declined, losing its status as the leading team in the series to McLaren in recent months. Despite McLaren’s 41-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship, Verstappen maintains a 52-point lead in the Drivers’ Standings. Perez, currently in eighth place with 144 points, is 187 points behind Verstappen and has not achieved a podium since April’s Chinese Grand Prix. Red Bull’s decision to give Perez a reprieve has not resulted in improved performance, raising doubts about his future with the team. Liam Lawson, replacing Ricciardo, will have the opportunity to prove himself as Red Bull evaluates its options for 2025. The success of rookie drivers like Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman has lessened skepticism about promoting inexperienced drivers to top teams, exemplified by Mercedes and Red Bull’s recent driver decisions. Helmut Marko acknowledges the readiness of young drivers for F1, emphasizing the importance of embracing the potential of emerging talent in the sport.
