Source – GP Fans
Christian Horner, who is thinking about pulling off a surprise driver change from Red Bull’s F1 competitors, has acknowledged a “foolish” move.
Red Bull’s 2024 season has been a far cry from their dominant performances of recent years, with the team’s sharp decline in performance catching many by surprise. Once the benchmark for excellence, Red Bull now finds itself struggling, as McLaren has surged ahead, claiming the top spot in the constructors’ championship after a decisive Azerbaijan Grand Prix. While on-track challenges have contributed to their fall from grace, the underperformance of Sergio Perez has also played a significant role in their current predicament.
Of Red Bull’s 475 points in the constructors’ standings this season, Perez has managed to contribute only 144 points, an alarmingly low number for a team aiming to compete at the highest level. Even more concerning, Perez has only secured 37 points in the past ten races, a worrying statistic for a driver expected to be fighting at the front. His inconsistency has sparked debates across the paddock, with many questioning whether Red Bull should consider replacing him ahead of the 2025 season.
Despite Perez’s underwhelming performances, Red Bull has so far expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back. However, as their performance woes continue to deepen, it’s becoming clear that Perez’s future with the team might be under increasing scrutiny. Red Bull boss Christian Horner has maintained a pragmatic approach, acknowledging that while Perez remains part of their current plans, the team must remain open to exploring all potential options for the future.
In a surprising twist, it’s not just Perez’s future at Red Bull that could be in jeopardy. Rumors have been swirling around the paddock about Max Verstappen’s potential departure from the team in the coming years. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has made no secret of his interest in the Dutchman, openly courting Verstappen throughout the season. While Mercedes has already confirmed Kimi Antonelli and George Russell as their lineup for 2025, Wolff has refused to rule out a future bid to lure Verstappen to the Silver Arrows for 2026 and beyond.
If Verstappen were to jump ship and join Mercedes, it would not only send shockwaves through the F1 world but also leave Russell in a precarious position. The British driver’s contract with Mercedes is set to expire at the end of 2025, and with Verstappen potentially on the horizon, Russell’s future with the team could hang in the balance. Red Bull, sensing an opportunity, has already expressed interest in exploring the possibility of bringing Russell into their fold.
During the Singapore GP weekend, Christian Horner made headlines when he spoke openly about the possibility of targeting Russell, should the British driver find himself without a contract after 2025. Horner emphasized that Red Bull isn’t afraid to look beyond their current talent pool and explore all available options to strengthen their lineup.
“We just want to take time to consider what those options look like for the future,” Horner explained. “And look, we’re not afraid to go outside the pool. You know George Russell is out of contract at the end of next year, and it would be foolish not to take that into consideration.”
Horner’s comments signal that Red Bull is carefully weighing its future driver lineup, especially as the team looks to rebound from a lackluster 2024 season. The notion of Russell joining Red Bull would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, but with the ever-changing dynamics of the driver market, it now seems like a plausible scenario.
Horner’s openness to considering Russell is a reflection of the competitive nature of F1, where teams are constantly evaluating talent and preparing for the future. Red Bull’s current struggles have placed them in a position where bold moves might be necessary to reclaim their status at the top of the sport. With Verstappen’s future at Red Bull uncertain and Perez’s performance under scrutiny, the team may have no choice but to shake things up.
As the season progresses, the focus will undoubtedly remain on both Perez’s form and Verstappen’s long-term commitment to Red Bull. If Perez continues to falter, the team may be forced to make a difficult decision ahead of 2025. Should Verstappen decide to entertain offers from Mercedes, Red Bull could be facing an entirely new chapter, one that may involve the likes of George Russell stepping into the spotlight as a potential Red Bull driver.
For now, the team will be looking to regroup and find answers to their current challenges on track. But with the driver market poised for significant shifts in the coming years, Red Bull’s 2025 lineup could look very different from what we see today. The team’s willingness to explore all possibilities, including the potential signing of a driver like Russell, signals that Red Bull is not content with standing still—they are preparing for the future, whatever it may hold.
