F1 Rumors: Red Bull-Williams ‘Silly season’ explodes once again
(GMM) A seismic rumor at the Brazilian GP is that Red Bull Racing is contemplating pairing meteoric Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto or Carlos Sainz Jr. with Max Verstappen from 2025.
Related Rumor: Colapinto’s 2025 race seat chances rest with Red Bull
Red Bull’s patience with Sergio Perez appears to be up, especially with the Mexican qualifying just 13th for Saturday’s sprint race. “He was half a second slower than Max, or even six tenths,” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Viaplay.
“That’s too much.” Plus, Red Bull gave him a brand-new chassis this weekend in Brazil because Perez was blaming the car for his poor performance.
Also on Friday, Horner was spotted leaving the hospitality unit of the rival Williams team, who have 21-year-old Colapinto under firm contract for 2025 and beyond – but with no race cockpit to offer him.
Williams boss James Vowles laughed off the visit.
“We’ve recently signed a new coffee sponsor and he really wanted to try it,” he smiled. “That was a good part of the conversation.”
Red Bull’s Horner also played down his meeting with Vowles. “There are no negotiations for yet,” he told Sky Italia. “We have Liam Lawson, who is also doing a great job.
“We have plenty of talent in the Red Bull program. There are always various issues to discuss up and down the pitlane, but Franco is doing a great job and we’ll keep an eye on him.”
When pressed by reporters at Interlagos, Vowles admitted that “multiple teams” are interested in Colapinto, who has not only stunned F1 with his pace and personality but also the commercial interest he is drumming up within his native Argentina and beyond.
“Our responsibility is both towards him and Williams,” said Vowles. “Hopefully, we’ll have some great news to be able to talk to everyone about, but today that isn’t available.”
Yet another explosive rumor, reported by Kleine Zeitung newspaper, is that Red Bull could oust Perez, extract Carlos Sainz from his Williams deal, leaving Vowles free to run Colapinto alongside Alex Albon in 2025.
Red Bull ace Max Verstappen said at Interlagos: “I mean, it’s complicated to answer because he (Colapinto) is still contracted to Williams, and of course he’s doing a great job.
“I think also Williams is probably scratching their heads a bit about what to do with Franco.”
Last Updated November 2, 2024
2025 AutoRacing1.com F1 Silly Season Table | ||||||
Team | Engine | No. | Driver | Nat. | Rating | Comments |
Audi Sauber | Ferrari | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Germany | Fact | Signed thru 2026 |
TBD | Gabriel Bortoleto | Brazil | Strong | Supposedly Signed | ||
77 | Valtteri Bottas | Finland | Speculation | Rumored to be out | ||
Alpine F1 Team | Renault | 10 | Pierre Gasly | France | Fact | Signed thru 2026 |
61 | Jack Doohan | Australia | Fact | Signed thru 2025 | ||
Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team | Mercedes | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Spain | Fact | Signed thru 2026 |
18 | Lance Stroll | Canada | Fact | Daddy owns the team | ||
Ferrari | Ferrari | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Monaco | Fact | Signed thru 2028 |
44 | Lewis Hamilton | England | Fact | Signed thru 2026 | ||
Moneygram Haas F1 Team | Ferrari | 31 | Esteban Ocon | France | Fact | Signed multi-Year |
87 | Oliver Bearman | England | Fact | Signed | ||
McLaren F1 Team | Mercedes | 4 | Lando Norris | England | Fact | Signed thru 2027 |
81 | Oscar Piastri | Australia | Fact | Signed thru 2027 | ||
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team | Mercedes | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Italy | Fact | Signed thru 2025 |
63 | George Russell | England | Fact | Signed thru 2025 | ||
Red Bull Racing | Honda | 1 | Max Verstappen | Netherlands | Fact | Signed thru 2028 |
43 | Franco Colapinto | Argentina | Strong | Supposedly Signed | ||
55 | Carlos Sainz Jr | Argentina | Speculation | Rumored to go to Red Bull instead of Colapinto | ||
11 | Sergio Perez | Mexico | Speculation | Rumored to be out | ||
Visa Cash App RB | Honda | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Japan | Fact | Signed thru 2025 |
30 | Liam Lawson | Australia | Fact | Signed but contingent on 2024 performance | ||
Williams Racing | Mercedes | 23 | Alex Albon | Thailand | Fact | Signed |
43 | Franco Colapinto | Argentina | Strong | If Sainz Jr. goes to Red Bull instead of him | ||
55 | Carlos Sainz Jr | Spain | Strong | Signed, but could go to Red Bull |