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