Helmut Marko has indirectly confirmed the 2025 line-up of both Red Bull teams. Ahead of the Austrian GP, the 81-year-old revealed how their plan of Daniel Ricciardo succeeding Sergio Perez at Red Bull, and Liam Lawson replacing him at VCARB, was crushed. The Australian’s underwhelming comeback has also dashed his hopes of retaining the VCARB seat. Marko, who promised Lawson a seat for 2025, has doubled down on it. And even though Perez has a 2-year extension with Red Bull, a new possibility of Lawson hitting two birds with one stone has emerged.

The second seats in both RB and VCARB are occupied by drivers performing subpar compared to their teammates. Though Perez’s severe underperformance dents RB’s constructors’ championship hopes, Ricciardo faces the bigger threat. VCARB, being RB’s junior team, has no justification for retaining a 35-year-old driver who isn’t elevating their performance. Ahead of the British GP, Helmut Marko once again affirmed that Lawson will get a seat for 2025.

“We will offer him something. A cockpit for next year,” he told BILD, adding, “It is clear that the Racing Bulls are a junior team. That has been communicated internally and everyone has understood that.” Ricciardo’s seat is the only one available for next year, with Perez and Yuki Tsunoda having renewed their contracts. And well, Max Verstappen is definitely not being considered as the man Lawson will replace. In five races from last year, the 22-year-old Kiwi proved his mettle after temporarily replacing an injured Ricciardo.

With 24 races in 2025, Lawson can aim to topple the bigger fish, which is Sergio Perez. The Mexican racer’s contract is structured in a 1+1 split, with Red Bull holding the power to terminate him after 2025 if his performance isn’t up to expectations. Judging by his 14 points in the last 5 races, Christian Horner & Co definitely expect more. Lawson can do the unthinkable and earn his RB promotion from VCARB by 2026.

Everybody knows how ruthless Red Bull is when it comes to underperforming drivers. But why would they renew Tsunoda’s contract so early, a driver who Marko termed “too slow” in March? Turns out, a rival team was attempting to poach both of VCARB’s young drivers.

Audi’s attempt at poaching Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda

Nico Hulkenberg has already filled one Audi (currently Sauber) seat for 2025. Though their top target was Carlos Sainz, the Ferrari driver announcing an indefinite delay in his decision, troubled them. Consequently, the German manufacturers actively approached Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. But Red Bull didn’t want to lose either of these talents.

Swiss publication Blick revealed this is why Daniel Ricciardo has suddenly come under pressure. Christian Horner & Co. are forced to retain Audi’s new targets. As a result, Tsunoda has already signed a 1-year extension and Lawson has been promised a cockpit for 2025. VCARB CEO Peter Bayer has revealed how they aren’t pressuring Ricciardo but “if he’s not performing, it will be difficult to put him into the car next year,” he emphasized.

The coming weeks won’t be pleasant for fans of the Honey Badger. But the New Zealanders will be proud to see one of their own putting them on F1’s map after Brendan Hartley in 2017-18. What’s your take on this? Share your thoughts below.