Red Bull are ‘urgently’ training one of their drivers in private tests to address 2025 F1 problem

Perez had performed so poorly in 2024 that Christian Horner couldn’t justify keeping him, even though he’d signed a new deal in June. It was clear by Abu Dhabi that Racing Bulls duo Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda were battling to partner Max Verstappen.

Lawson prevailed, even though he’s only driven in 11 F1 races. Tsunoda stays at the de facto junior team, partnering a rookie in Isack Hadjar.

For the first time since 2020, all four drivers are products of the Red Bull driver programme. Perez was an external hire ahead of the 2021 season after Alex Albon lost his seat.

Four-time world champion Verstappen is still only 27, while Hadjar, Lawson and Tsunoda are all aged between 20 and 24.

This, then, is the year where Red Bull go back to their roots, promoting young talent developed in-house.

Red Bull threatened to make Sergio Perez a ‘show pony’ reserve driver if he stayed. But that might actually have been a sensible arrangement.

Last season, Hadjar’s fellow F2 driver Oliver Bearman had to step in for three races. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen withdrew in Saudi Arabia and Brazil respectively through illness, while Magnussen was also banned for the Azerbaijan GP.

Verstappen enters 2025 with eight penalty points, only four away from a race ban, and that tally won’t come down until June. Lawson has two, while it’s a clean slate for Tsunoda and Hadjar.

Reports claim Verstappen still plans to race if his child is born on a race weekend. But if he’s banned at some point, or unfit to race for whatever reason, Red Bull could find themselves in a crisis.

One would imagine that Tsunoda would step up to the Milton Keynes outfit for a weekend. That, however, leaves a vacancy at Racing Bulls.

Similarly, if Tsunoda or Hadjar have to pull out of a particular race, there isn’t an obvious replacement. This is why Red Bull are ‘urgently’ training up Arvid Lindblad.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, the 17-year-old F2 driver hasn’t reached ‘Formula 1 maturity’ yet. Horner and co. want to address this ‘as quickly as possible’, so they’ve scheduled TPC tests.

Red Bull have previously been reluctant to hold these private sessions because engine suppliers Honda demand ‘a lot of money’ for the provision of parts and personnel. But they now have no choice.

Lindblad is expected to drive either the 2023 AlphaTauri car or the corresponding Red Bull. While the FIA have removed the rule requiring a competitor to be 18 to secure a superlicence, he still doesn’t have enough points.

Motorsport advisor Helmut Marko is determined to ensure Lindblad is eligible. He views him as a potential candidate for the 2026 F1 season.

Tsunoda could be replaced as he reaches the end of his contract. With Honda switching their supply to Aston Martin, that may be a logical destination.