Max Verstappen says Franco Colapinto is doing a “great job” and is a “very attractive” option in the F1 pit-lane, but the decision is Red Bull’s to make. The F1 2025 grid is almost set, with just Red Bull remaining to determine their line-ups for next season. Officially, there is just one seat at junior team VCARB still up for grabs, but media speculation has hinted at wider changes to come.
Sergio Perez is contracted to remain Verstappen’s team-mate for F1 2025, but his struggles for form across the current season have sparked talk that Red Bull will look to make a change. Liam Lawson is seeing out the F1 2024 season at VCARB as he auditions for a place in Red Bull’s plans, while another driver who is claimed to be on their radar is Franco Colapinto, who has shone at Williams since replacing Logan Sargeant. Six-time F1 race winner Ralf Schumacher thinks Colapinto joining Red Bull is a “fixed” deal , though which of their teams he joins is undecided.
And at the Brazilian GP – which Verstappen won in almighty fashion from P17 on the grid – Red Bull’s three-time World Champion was asked for his take on the possibility of Colapinto being his F1 2025 team-mate. “I don’t know. It’s a bit difficult for me to answer.
I’m busy with other things to improve,” he replied. “He’s doing a great job at the moment in Formula 1, so that’s great to see. I understand, of course, that it’s very attractive for a lot of teams to have him, so it’s up to t.