Helmut Marko has confirmed that Red Bull will make a decision on Max Verstappen’s F1 2025 team-mate at the end of the season amid mounting rumours surrounding the future of Sergio Perez. And he has claimed that the two-year contract Perez signed earlier this year will not stop Red Bull making a change for next season,

Helmut Marko has told Sergio Perez that ‘he has to improve his performance’ to avoid being replaced at the end of the season but denied that the experienced Mexican was planning on announcing his retirement from the sport at his home race next weekend.

Perez, 34, saw an improvement in his performances recently, especially as Verstappen faced struggles with Red Bull's less competitive 2024 car. However, now that the car has regained its pace, the gap between Perez and Verstappen has widened again.