When Sergio “Checo” Pérez’s future at Red Bull seemed doomed, The economic power of Mexico and its supporters would allow it to continue in the regionwith which Franco Colapinto‘s chances would be closed stay in Formula 1 in 2025.
With the Sauber seat confirmed for Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, The main option for Colapinto next season is to join Red Bullin one of two teams, the main one or the Racing Bull subsidiary. The only vacancy is available, because The team has yet to confirm Liam Lawson as Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate, although all the signs lead to that situation. That’s why, The Argentine’s chances are based on Pérez’s eventual dismissal, that he has a contract until 2026, but that his bad season made the team authorities consider his departure. Then, The gap that opens would be covered by Colapinto, for each team.
However, in the last few hours the panorama has changed, with the possibility of Checo Pérez continuing in the Austrian team becoming stronger. According to what the Spanish newspaper published Marc, “Horner’s team would have given Mexico’s new supporters a good deal for next year”.
Regarding these sponsors, the Spanish media revealed that “some are very powerful and recently Red Bull gave them permission to make clothes and merchandising products… In this sense, the accounts are clearer. The brands that “Checo” is associated with will pay his salary of more than 10 million dollars and leave an amount in Red Bull’s coffers that could be about double that , something like 30 million dollars in total.“These numbers are different from the 20 million that Red Bull had to pay to Williams to free the Argentine.
If Pérez’s succession is confirmed, this situation would be a big blow for Colapinto to come to Red Bull. This way, Racing Bull will be the only empty seat, and it would be New Zealander Liam Lawson, Red Bull Academy driver and current owner of the seat.
In that case, the option that would remain for the Argentinean to continue in Formula 1 in 2025 It would be the French Alpine team, whose drivers are already confirmed for next season. Therefore, to complete the arrival of Colapinto, Alpine should come back down with the arrival of Australian Jack Doohanwho is currently a test pilot. According to Italian media La Gazzetta dello SpórsAlpine consultant Flavio Briatore sees the Argentine as a more promising option.
Colapinto ended in the middle of the season in Formula 1 in place of American Logan Sargeant and performances were very goodwhich allowed him to add five points in the championship (four for an eighth-place finish in Azerbaijan and one for a tenth-place finish in the United States). The final races of the season, which will be held in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, will be a good opportunity for Colapinto to prove that he is up to the task of the division. If the final gap does not open, Colapinto will remain as Williams driver reserve He will test throughout the year and focus on adding hours in the simulator, awaiting the opportunity to re-enter Formula 1 in 2026.
