Franco Colapinto shortlisted by Red Bull as Sergio Perez's potential replacement: Reports

It is being reported that Williams F1 driver Franco Colapinto has been shortlisted by Red Bull to replace Sergio Perez for next year. The Argentine has caught everyone by surprise with his performances ever since he made his debut on the grid at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix replacing Logan Sargeant.

The 21-year-old has regularly pushed his more established teammate Alex Albon in the same car. But given his late entrance into the sport, it has become very difficult for him to get a permanent race seat at Williams, where Carlos Sainz has already signed on a multi-year deal.

However, as reported by Sky Italia's Roberto Chinchero, Red Bull has made an offer for Franco Colapinto's services for the 2025 season and replace Sergio Perez. Although, he also claimed that the move would be difficult to execute as Colapinto is a Williams Academy Driver for the next two years.

Sergio Perez has a contract with the Milton-Keynes outfit for the 2025 season but due to his poor performances this year, the Austrian team has been reportedly looking for options to replace him.

Speaking with the Kleine Zeitung, Helmut Marko gave his take on Colapinto's chances of joing Red Bull next year, saying (via NextgenAuto):

"In Formula 1, everyone talks to everyone. The problem with him is that he has a long-term contract with Williams. We are also in a good position with our own junior drivers. We are not going to train anyone for another team."

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Red Bull team advisor gives his take on Sergio Perez's contract for 2025

Red Bull team advisor Helmut Marko recognized that Sergio Perez has a deal with the team for the 2025 season, but he was adamant that the contract could become "useless" if the performances don't match up.

Speaking with F1-Insider, the 81-year-old said:

"Perez may have a contract, but Formula 1 is a meritocracy, If the performance is not right, even contracts are useless. At the end of the season, we will sit down together and decide who is the best team-mate for Verstappen at Red Bull."

The Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is banking on the Mexican crowd's support for Sergio Perez's potential improvement in form for the remainder of the year, adding:

"Well, hopefully, with the support that he’ll receive in Mexico, it’ll give him that boost, When you qualify out of position, you lose so much time coming through tail-end cars in the top 10 that you’ve then lost contact with the rest of the race."

The Mexican driver finished on the podium at his home race for two seasons in a row in 2021 and 2022 and ably supported Max Verstappen on both occasions.