Could Red Bull Rival's Driver Partner Verstappen for 2025 Formula 1 Season After Horner's Remark?

• Max Verstappen could be with a new driving teammate for the 2025 Formula 1 season
• Current teammate, Sergio Perez's contract runs out at the end of the 2024 campaign
• Christian Horner has hinted at a move for a rival team driver to partner Verstappen

The speculation regarding Max Verstappen's teammate for the 2025 season has continued to gain attention across the Formula 1 grid.

This conversation was fuelled by Sergio Perez's 'compromised' race at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.

The Mexican driver, who qualified in third, was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg during qualifying, an act which many have attributed to the fault of Perez's race engineer, Hugh Bird.

On the race Sunday, the 33-year-old, who started the Grand Prix in sixth position, could only muster a fifth-place finish at the end of the seemingly chaotic race, which led to the post-race reactions being filled with talk of whether he would continue at Red Bull for the 2025 season.

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The question surrounding the future of 'Checo' was thrown at Red Bull Team Principal, Christian Horner, and he provided a cheeky response, which has triggered conversations across the F1 paddock.

Horner's response to Checo's continuity

The 50-year-old, addressing the media in the post-race debrief, per Racingnews365, faced questions regarding replacing Perez, particularly with Carlos Sainz, who had just won the Australian Grand Prix.

"After such a performance, you can't dismiss any possibility. We want to be patient. Checo's race was compromised, but he's had a great season so far, so we don't need to rush.

"Carlos [Sainz] is the only driver who has won against Red Bull since 2022, so he seems to be our biggest rival."

The prospect of Sainz replacing Perez seems very feasible, especially considering the 29-year-old is without a seat for the 2025 season.

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However, it's important to note that his strained relationship with Verstappen could be a significant factor. The Spaniard left his role as a driver for Toro Rosso in 2017, largely due to a fallout with his Dutch teammate.

The reunion of both drivers, though possible, could reignite another tense situation within Red Bull's team.

Nonetheless, as Horner has hinted, signing Sainz remains a possibility and it remains to be seen if it will come to fruition or if Red Bull will continue with Perez.

Key takeaways from the Australian GP

Sports Brief also reported on the key takeaways from the Australian Grand Prix.

The chaotic race saw the spotlight shift to Ferrari following the victory by Sainz.

Visa Cash App RB driver, Daniel Ricciardo, struggled in front of a home crowd.