Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that an announcement concerning the second seat at RB in 2025 will land during the upcoming Formula 1 autumn break.
RB published earlier this season that Yuki Tsunoda will retain his place into a sixth season, but who partners him at Red Bull’s second-string team remains undecided.
Daniel Ricciardo occupies the drive alongside the Japanese racer and has shown an improvement in results since enduring a disappointing opening to the campaign.
However, Marko divulged back in June that Red Bull’s shareholders hold a desire to see the Faenza-based squad revert to being a team that develops emerging talent.
The Austrian expressed last month that Liam Lawson is guaranteed to be in a Red Bull car in 2025, but team boss Christian Horner proceeded to dampen such claims.
Marko, though, has said that a resolution to the long-standing saga is poised to be settled in the four-week gap between the Singapore and United States Grands Prix.
“We have an idea, so just wait until Singapore,” Marko told Viaplay. “It’s still September and then we’ll have a clear picture.
“It will become clear there what will happen [with RB’s remaining 2025 seat].”
He then added to Motorsport.com: “The second driver will be announced after Singapore. Between Singapore and Austin. Not during the Texas weekend, but before.”
Lawson would be eligible to chase F1 opportunities outside the Red Bull stable in the circumstance where an option is not taken up on his services during this month.
The New Zealander has previous F1 experience, having impressed when he deputised at five rounds last year when Ricciardo was sidelined with a broken metacarpal.
Ricciardo’s F1 hopes remain in the balance
In the circumstance where Lawson is selected to partner Tsunoda at RB, Ricciardo’s F1 hopes would boil down to whether Red Bull’s senior team retains Sergio Perez.
Perez possesses a contract through 2025, but his wretched run prior to the summer shutdown prompted Red Bull’s senior bosses to evaluate his position in the team.
However, Perez retained his place and has shown an upturn since the season resumed, recording a sixth-place finish at Zandvoort and then an eighth place at Monza.
The Mexican was delivering his strongest showing this season in Baku as he was on course to seize a morale-boosting podium until a late collision with Carlos Sainz.
Red Bull’s acceptance that Perez’s recurring issues since last season are down to missteps in development that Max Verstappen’s brilliance had managed to disguise.
However, even the Dutchman has become susceptible to the balance problems with the RB20 that have seen the reigning champions surrender first place to McLaren.
But while Perez’s prospects have improved, Ricciardo has remained adamant that Red Bull will have no reason to drop him should he manage to produce on the track.
Lawson rejects outside interest
The Australian has also disregarded potential interest elsewhere on the grid, citing that his ambition is fixated on a return to the Red Bull drive that he vacated in 2018.
“I know performance is my best friend and that if I do what I know I can do and capable of, I think it puts me in a very good position to stay somewhere in the family for next year,” he said.
“Speaking of Liam, I got to see him drive the car last year and I do think he did a great job.
“I do think he is worthy of a seat on the grid, so in a way, I’m happy for him. If he is guaranteed a seat next year, then I think that’s good because he is a deserving driver.
“So what does that mean for me? Probably a little bit unknown, but if I perform then I’m sure they’ll find a spot for me somewhere.
“I’m most happy being back here. Speaking of performance, it’s nice not looking elsewhere or having maybe other little distractions, because I can just focus on this.
“It’s an all-in approach, but I think that approach will also get the most out of me. And if that is still not enough, then c’est la vie.
“I think that intensifies it, but also simplifies it, so I think it’s the best approach. It’s not coming from a stubborn place, but I don’t really want to be anywhere else either.
“I’m not going to say everyone’s calling me [saying]: ‘Hey, well if this doesn’t work, we’ve got something for you.’
“But I think also I’ve been quite open about not wanting to [leave the Red Bull system]. I’ve obviously done a bit of jumping around the last few years and that, in itself, can be tiring.
“I feel like I’ve worked my way back to this place and also Red Bull has given me the opportunity to be back here, so it’s not something I just want to dismiss and say: ‘OK, well, what’s next?’
“There is no next thing for me. This is it.
“I’m appreciative of what they’ve been able to give me now and I really just want to try and make it work with them.”
