Recently, Red Bull's sister team, RB, has put an end to long-standing speculation by confirming that Liam Lawson will replace Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of the 2024 F1 season. The move came after Ricciardo's failure to deliver points-finishing results for the team.

However, Lawson was officially announced as Ricciardo’s replacement only for the remaining six races of the season, suggesting that RB is still unsure, who to put in their seat for 2025.

The team has decided to play it safe, using this time to assess Lawson's capabilities before making a final decision on who will join Yuki Tsunoda in their 2025 driver lineup. With the situation shaping that way, other possible candidates like F2 star Isack Hadjar or Red Bull’s junior driver Arvid Lindblad.

Red Bull itself is now also facing a crucial decision, as they must evaluate their future with Sergio Perez, who has been unable to meet the team's performance expectations.

The Mexican driver has been struggling the whole season. He is currently eighth in the Driver's Championship with 144 points, which is less than half of his teammate Max Verstappen's total. 

Since his last podium finish at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix in April, he has failed to deliver consistent performances, which has weakened his team's position in the Constructor’s Championship, allowing McLaren to jump Red Bull after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, has clarified that the decision to put Lawson on the track right away is aimed at giving Red Bull a clear understanding of the New Zealander's abilities as well as to considering their long-term plans with Perez.

“We need answers for the bigger picture in terms of drivers,” said Horner quoted by Motorsport.com.

“With six races remaining, it's the perfect opportunity to line Liam up alongside Yuki [Tsunoda] to see how he performs over the remaining six grands prix.

“This goes beyond VCARB. It encompasses Red Bull Racing.

“Obviously, we've got a contract with Sergio for next year, but you've always got to have an eye out in terms of what comes next.

“And is that going to be Liam, or do we need to look outside the pool? Or will one of the other juniors step up in the fullness of time of this, like Isack Hadjar or Arvid Lindblad?” he concluded with a question.