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Perez out! Driver carousel at Red Bull is spinning

Sergio Perez (left) and team boss Christian Horner will probably not start the new season together.(Bild: AFP/APA/Gabriel BOUYS)

Sergio Perez will probably no longer be driving alongside world champion Max Verstappen in the upcoming Formula 1 season. Consistent reports from the Red Bull environment confirm that the Mexican's departure is a done deal and that only the final internal details remain to be clarified. A successor has also already been decided. 

Sky, Canal+ and sources close to Red Bull report that Perez's expected departure has been decided. According to the report, team boss Christian Horner, chief advisor Helmut Marko, sports boss Oliver Mintzlaff and the Thai Yoovidhya clan have agreed that Perez will no longer drive alongside Verstappen next season. 

Only the final details of the contract termination are still being clarified. Although Perez was still on the road with the team on Tuesday, the Mexican's performance was ultimately too weak to convince the bosses that a turnaround will be possible next year. For the 34-year-old, it is also likely to mean the end of his Formula 1 career.

And who will replace Lawson?
His successor has also been chosen. Liam Lawson will probably sit next to Verstappen in the Red Bull cockpit next season. The New Zealander already replaced veteran Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls last season. Marko in particular is considered a great supporter of the 22-year-old. Although he has only contested eleven races in the "premier class", Red Bull has high hopes for him.

Lawson's move to Red Bull has created a vacancy at the Racing Bulls junior team. While there was initially speculation that Franco Colapinto would be given the cockpit, Isack Hadjar from the RB academy is now considered the favorite.