Helmut Marko has emphasized that Red Bull will not succumb to the pressure exerted by Audi on the F1 driver market in 2024.
Red Bull currently has several unconfirmed positions across both of its teams for the 2025 season. However, Marko maintains that despite the looming presence of Audi in the driver market, Red Bull will not be swayed to alter their course.
At Red Bull Racing, Sergio Perez’s contract is set to expire at the end of 2024, potentially leaving a seat vacant alongside Max Verstappen for the following season if the team decides on a change.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda face scrutiny to secure their seats at RB, particularly Ricciardo, given his performance in the opening races of the season. Liam Lawson, a Kiwi racer, is also in the mix, keeping a close eye on developments in the background.
With a significant portion of the grid still unconfirmed for the next season, the impending entry of Audi in 2026 is adding complexity to the driver market. Some drivers may be seeking short-term contracts to maintain flexibility for the arrival of Audi.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, addressed the situation, noting, “The driver market has exploded in April and, normally, no one talks [about it] in April.
“It is ridiculous, but we won’t jump into this game ourselves. We will wait and see, and only then make the best choice later on.
“I don’t know what is going on. I have heard that Audi is making pressure, but it is a little bit strange for a newcomer to make pressure on the driver market.”
In Japan, Marko himself ignited further speculation in the driver market when he was captured engaging in conversation and exchanging greetings with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who currently stands as the most prominent free agent in the market.
Marko acknowledged that it would be imprudent for Red Bull to disregard the potential of Carlos Sainz, the victor of the Australian Grand Prix and famously dubbed by Christian Horner as the team’s “nemesis.”
Sainz stands out as the sole driver, aside from Verstappen and Perez, to achieve victory since the beginning of 2023.
“Sainz came into Formula 1 through Red Bull and also had a very good year back then at Toro Rosso. Sainz is certainly a name to consider,” Marko remarked.
“Normally we don’t talk about driver decisions at all in April, but somehow the whole thing seems to have moved forward a lot. But it’s still too early for us, we will certainly wait some time before we make a decision.”
Perez has commenced the season with vigor, establishing himself as a potentially appealing option for other teams. The Mexican driver has explicitly expressed his desire for prompt clarification regarding his future endeavors.
“I am pretty relaxed about it,” he stated. “It is my 14th season in F1 and whatever comes next, I am already really pleased with what I have done in the sport so far. I believe it will be a matter of time.
“Obviously the driver market is moving and in the next few weeks, there are going to be a lot of movements for sure. So, I expect within a month to really know what I am doing next year.”
However, indications suggest that Perez is likely to retain his seat at Red Bull, as the pressures from 2023 gradually diminish with each race, thanks to his consistently strong performances.
Perez revealed during the Japan race weekend that he has ceased experimenting with car setups in pursuit of perfection and is more focused on optimizing his side of the garage, leading to improved results.
With three second-place finishes in addition to a commendable fifth-place finish in Australia despite aerodynamic challenges, Christian Horner emphasized that Perez remains the top priority for the second Red Bull seat.
“He needs to just keep doing what he’s doing,” Horner stated to the media following the race on Sunday evening. The whole driver market seems to be very early this year that everybody seems to be rushing around, and we’re only four races into the year.
“We’re not in a huge rush. And, obviously, there’s a significant amount of interest in our cars, as you would expect. But Checo [Perez] has the priority, and it is going to be a few more races yet before we start to think about next year.”
