Intrigue regarding the driver lineups at Red Bull and Visa Cash App RB F1 Team continues.
And now Dr. Helmut Marko is adding to that speculation.
The Red Bull senior figure spoke with ESPN about the team’s decision to stick with Sergio Pérez following Formula 1’s summer shutdown, as the team faces a true title fight this season. While many believed Pérez’s poor form, and the threat posed by teams such as McLaren, would force Red Bull to make a chance the team confirmed they are sticking by the Mexican driver, hoping to get the best out of him down the stretch.
Speaking with ESPN, Marko addressed that decision and the difficulties in being Max Verstappen’s teammate.
“We believe that we can turn it round and make it more stable for him,” Marko said to ESPN. “To be teammate to Max is not the nicest thing in Formula One. Checo has his merits, he’s won races.
“Our discussion was not just about drivers, it was regular discussions we had of what can we do to improve the situation? We have to try to make the car more easy to drive.”
As for how Red Bull might make the car easier to drive, there is a belief that the team will revert to a previous spec of the RB20 for Pérez, who began the year with four podiums in five races. According to ESPN the team is “considering” returning to that spec of the RB20 for Pérez, hoping to tap into that successful start to the season.
“The more difficult the car is to drive, the more the difference to Max comes out because he’s such an outstanding talent,” added Marko. “If the rear steps out he won’t lift the throttle, he’s just, ‘yeah, it’s a little bit nervous,’ Checo says ‘it’s difficult’ or ‘it’s undrivable.’
“So to be next to Max is a different story. So we said let’s try to make the car more easy to drive, get more balance, which is also something Max wants, and the best thing is to keep going with Checo and hope that he … the main problem was this up and down. He had some very good results, very good performances, then the next day he was half a second off Max or so.”
However, the most interesting comments from Marko might be what he told ESPN about Liam Lawson. While Yuki Tsunoda is confirmed for one seat at VCARB next season, the other has yet to be filled, with both Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson in the mix for that spot. As speculation grew regarding Pérez’s status at Red Bull there was an idea that Ricciardo would be promoted to that seat.
Marko confirmed that was an idea, but noted that Ricciardo did not do enough to warrant such a move.
“Daniel was put in the car and if he would have been significantly faster than Yuki there was an idea to bring him back to Red Bull Racing,” Marko said to ESPN. “But he also had this up and down. So, so far, he didn’t fulfil the criteria to be a Red Bull Racing driver.”
He then turned his attention to Lawson.
“It’s a tough time for someone like Liam, especially as he jumped into the car under very, very difficult circumstances and did very well. We rate him high and he will get his chance,” added Marko. “Just wait. September, you will have an answer.”
That certainly reads as if Lawson will be getting a shot next season at VCARB.
If so, does that mean Ricciardo is the odd driver out next year? Or, despite Pérez signing his new contract ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix will he still be the driver sidelined for next year? Might Ricciardo and Pérez be driving for their 2025 futures down the stretch?
The speculation continues …
