The Milton Keynes-based workforce has a vacant slot for 2025 with Sergio Perez’s contract working out on the finish of this season.
Perez has proven some improved potential this 12 months and, off the again of ending runner-up to Verstappen within the Japanese Grand Prix, he at present lies second within the drivers’ standings.
However Purple Bull nonetheless needs to see if Perez can sustain this kind for the long-haul, having began final season in equally good condition earlier than he endured a mid-year stoop that prompted questions on his future.
The squad has loads of choices out there ought to it resolve that it doesn’t wish to proceed with Perez, as there are a bunch of main drivers that aren’t but locked down.
One avenue may very well be to maintain issues inside and promote Yuki Tsunoda from RB, with the Japanese teen having delivered a robust begin to the season that included a high ten end in his house race at Suzuka.
Motorsport.com understands, nevertheless, that Purple Bull can also be evaluating different extra skilled candidates.
Alex Albon is on its quick listing, however he’s out of attain for 2025 as a result of he’s locked all the way down to a contract with Williams so would should be purchased out. As revealed earlier this 12 months, Purple Bull has requested for a primary refusal possibility on his companies for 2026.
Pole man Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB20, Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing RB20
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Pictures
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is, nevertheless, a extra critical candidate, together with his race-winning kind and spectacular technical capabilities making him a no brainer alternative if Purple Bull thinks it must do one thing completely different.
However the Sainz state of affairs is sophisticated by the truth that Purple Bull will not be the one workforce that the Spaniard has choices with.
Sources have revealed that factions inside Aston Martin need him to hitch the Silverstone outfit for 2025 alongside Lance Stroll and lead it into the brand new F1 guidelines period from 2026, fairly than proceed with Fernando Alonso.
After which F1’s latest producer Audi can also be on the hunt for the drivers it needs for its entry in 2026, with Sainz having been considered one of its apparent targets for some time now.
Audi’s push to get its drivers in place as early as subsequent 12 months signifies that those that have choices there might not be capable to wait too lengthy, and which means that they might have to put down a deadline for Purple Bull to make its name.
Purple Bull insists that it’s unmoved by what different groups need although, and says that it’ll take on a regular basis it wants to make sure it has the strongest driver pairing for 2025.
Talking solely to Motorsport.com concerning the state of affairs, Purple Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko stated: “The motive force market has exploded in April, and usually nobody talks [about it] in April.
“It’s ridiculous, however we gained’t leap into this recreation ourselves. We are going to wait and see, and solely then make your best option in a while.
“I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve heard that Audi is making stress, however it’s a little bit unusual for a newcomer to make stress on the driving force market.”
Whereas Purple Bull is pleased to attend till the summer season, Perez thinks that issues will kick into motion a lot sooner, with it anticipated that the primary driver market strikes may come imminently.
“I’m fairly relaxed about it,” he informed Sky. “It’s my 14th season in F1 and no matter comes subsequent, I’m already actually happy with what I’ve performed within the sport thus far. I consider will probably be a matter of time.
“Clearly the driving force market is transferring and within the subsequent few weeks there are going to be a number of actions for positive. So, I count on inside a month to essentially know what I’m doing subsequent 12 months.”
Purple Bull workforce principal Christian Horner stated the second seat was very a lot in Perez’s fingers, particularly if he continues delivering.
“He wants to simply preserve doing what he is doing,” defined Horner. “The entire driver market appears to be very early this 12 months that everyone appears to be speeding round, and we’re solely 4 races into the 12 months.
“We’re not in an enormous rush. And, clearly, there is a important quantity of curiosity in our vehicles, as you’d count on. However Checo has the precedence, and it’ll be a couple of extra races but earlier than we begin to consider subsequent 12 months.”
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