Red Bull faces looming deadline on Lawson's future

With only a few days remaining, Red Bull is rapidly approaching a deadline to make a decision on retaining Liam Lawson for 2025.

The driver market remains unusually active, despite most of the seats for the 2025 grid having been filled. There is still ongoing speculation, with the main opening appearing to be at Audi's team, Sauber, which is yet to secure a top-tier driver to partner Nico Hulkenberg for the coming season.

During last weekend's Monza event, Audi's newly appointed F1 head, Mattia Binotto, mentioned that the Swiss-German partnership is exploring the option of either a seasoned driver or a young talent.

Binotto specifically highlighted two rookies: Theo Pourchaire, currently serving as Sauber's reserve driver and the reigning Formula 2 champion, who has also competed in the Indycar series in 2024, and Gabriel Bortoleto, who is currently a frontrunner in F2.

Pourchaire, who is 21, was present at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix.

"Some people say I won the (F2) championship in my third year, and that may not sound great," stated the Frenchman. "But people have to remember that I won the title at 20. I was the youngest race winner in both Formula 2 and Formula 3.

"I just need a chance, that's all," Pourchaire continued. "This sport means everything to me. I just need a seat and a steering wheel."

Seasoned F1 journalist Roger Benoit speculates that the "only reasonable explanation" for Sauber's prolonged wait to sign a second driver is that they are waiting on Red Bull's decision.

He reported in the Blick newspaper that Red Bull now has just "ten days" left to exercise their option to extend Liam Lawson's contract for 2025.

Lawson was behind the wheel of both Red Bull Racing and RB cars at Monza this week during Pirelli's testing for their 2025 tyres, leaving uncertainty over whether Red Bull will find a spot for him in one of their four seats next year or if they will consider sending him out on loan.

However, Dr. Helmut Marko recently dismissed the idea of a loan move to Audi, and Benoit also suggests that keeping Daniel Ricciardo at RB beyond 2024 seems "rather unlikely."

"I'm sure I'll finish the rest of the season," the Australian driver, Ricciardo, affirmed at Monza.

Looking ahead to 2025, Ricciardo is less certain. "It doesn't matter what's being said," the 35-year-old stated. "What matters is what my hands and feet are doing in the cockpit."

"I don't feel any extra pressure," he added. "I have never been taken aside or anything like that. I know what needs to be improved, but I have known Helmut for a long time. I know this system. Maybe that is why there have been no hard conversations."

"I know better than anyone what can be improved. Probably what's now getting into the press are quotes taken out of context, but I don't feel any additional pressure from Helmut or from within the team."

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