The Formula 1 paddock is buzzing with drama as Red Bull Racing finally made the call to part ways with Sergio Perez, cutting their partnership short by the previously agreed two years. The move, while expected by fans and pundits for months, has opened the door to one of the most coveted and potentially most dangerous seats in motorsport—alongside the formidable four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

But the real question? Red Bull passed on proven multiple race winner and consistent performer, Carlos Sainz, and went with rookie Liam Lawson; A decision that’s sparked heated debate across the sport. In a chat with Sky Sports F1, team boss Christian Horner peeled back the curtain on these controversial choices, shining a spotlight on the delicate balancing act of running one of Formula 1’s most high-profile teams.

Red Bull had earlier extended Perez’s contract this season, hoping to shore up his confidence and results. Fast-forward to the present day, Perez is out, Sainz is heading to Williams, and Red Bull’s decisions are under the microscope like never before.

Horner on the Perez gamble and skipping Carlos Sainz

In his interview with Sky Sports F1, Christian Horner reflected on the team’s mid-season choice to stick with Perez. At the time, it made sense: Perez was second in the drivers’ standings with four podiums in the first five races.

“At the point that we extended Checo’s contract, you have to remember that he was second in the world championship and finishing on podiums in the first four out of five races,” said Horner, explaining that Red Bull hoped the new contract would remove the external pressures and allow him to find consistency.

But things didn’t pan out. Red Bull’s early season pace advantage was eradicated as Mclaren, Ferrari and occasionally Mercedes caught up with the once-dominant RB20. Perez’s performance fell off a cliff as the season wore on, with mistakes piling up and his pace falling well short of Verstappen’s. Red Bull’s constructors’ title defense slipped away, leaving them third behind McLaren and Ferrari—a bitter pill for a team that was growing accustomed to dominating. By Abu Dhabi, Perez had dropped to eighth in the standings, his worst season finish in years.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz was thriving. The Spaniard delivered one of his strongest seasons yet at Ferrari, showcasing remarkable consistency as well as picking up two sensational race wins in Australia and Mexico. When Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster pre-season move to Ferrari left Sainz on the market, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for Red Bull. Instead, they stuck with Perez, a decision Horner admitted came with consequences.

“Carlos is a great driver, and we’ve seen that obviously this year,” Horner acknowledged. “But sometimes, you’ve got to look at all the various criteria and dynamics.” For many, Carlos Sainz seemed like an obvious fit for Red Bull, especially given his history in their junior program. But that very history may have worked against him. When Sainz and Verstappen were teammates at Toro Rosso in 2015, things got heated—so much so that Helmut Marko described the atmosphere as ‘toxic’. “The atmosphere between the two was quite toxic,” Marko told Marca earlier this year. “Sainz was unlucky to have Verstappen as a teammate. He’s a great driver but having them together didn’t work for us back then.”

Fast-forward nearly a decade, and Red Bull wasn’t willing to risk reopening old wounds. With Verstappen now the undisputed leader of the team and in the prime of his career, maintaining harmony in the garage took precedence over reuniting with Carlos Sainz. This is even though the pair are much older and far more mature, coupled with the notion that the Spaniard is amongst the most likable drivers amongst all his prior teammates, left many fans perplexed at the lost opportunity.

Perez’s decline and Red Bull’s tough choices as Lawson steps up and Sainz moves on

Perez’s struggles in 2024 weren’t just limited to on-track performance; it was a mental battle, too. Red Bull tried everything to support him—experimenting with setups, swapping his chassis, even changing his race engineer. But none of it clicked. Despite behind-the-scenes efforts to boost his confidence, Perez couldn’t deliver the results Red Bull needed.

Financially, his poor form hit hard. Dropping to third in the constructors’ standings cost the team millions in prize money and bonuses. By season’s end, Red Bull decided it was time to move on, offering Perez a graceful exit after years of service that included key contributions in 2021, and 2022. 2023 was especially significant as it was the first time in the Austrian team’s history that they had scored a 1-2 in the championship despite having won seven constructors titles in the last 15 years.

With Perez out, Red Bull turned to Liam Lawson. The 22-year-old rookie made a strong impression during his substitute appearances in 2023 and 2024, showing raw speed and maturity under pressure. Promoting Lawson underscores Red Bull’s faith in their junior program, though it remains to be seen if he can handle the immense challenge of partnering with Max Verstappen.

As for Sainz, he’s embracing a new chapter at Williams with his trademark optimism and determination. After a productive post-season test in Abu Dhabi, Sainz is already making his mark, logging 146 laps and providing valuable feedback to the team. “I’m as determined as ever to help this team get back to where it belongs,” Sainz said. “How long that will take, I can’t say. But I’m motivated by the challenge and eager to contribute my experience.”

Williams team principal James Vowles outlined the team’s goal with Sainz and Alex Albon for next season with an emphasis on pushing boundaries. “So, this is about two leaders which is what Alex and Carlos are, developing the team forward in every regard. We need to make sure we’re pushing the boundaries of what we do in race engineering, strategy, data.”

For Sainz, the move to Williams is a fresh start and a chance to solidify his reputation as one of the grid’s most respected drivers. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Lawson to see if he can thrive in the shadow of Verstappen. While history and circumstances influenced Red Bull’s choices, the question remains: did they miss an opportunity by not pairing Verstappen with a proven talent?