The major hurdle between Red Bull and their new F1 driver target if Sergio Perez is axed

For all their talk of looking within, seem to have set their sights on an external candidate for their next driver vacancy.

There is no doubting that is being prepared for a promotion to the top team. has been hanging on by a gossamer thread for months now and a particularly awful weekend at may prove to be the final straw.

Team principal said Perez will still drive alongside in Brazil this weekend, but it should not go unnoticed that he failed to say "for the rest of the season". Even if he does make it to Abu Dhabi in December, it will be hard to justify keeping the Mexican for 2025.

Lawson is in pole position for a promotion, despite current RB team-mate being far more experienced - that will not go down well with the Japanese racer. So the pertinent question now is: Who will partner a rather grumpy Tsunoda at the junior squad?

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Their most senior academy prospect, Isack Hadjar, has had a good season in and is a strong contender for the title. But that is not likely to be enough and the key decision-makers at Red Bull have had their heads turned by strong performances from this season's surprise package in F1.

Franco Colapinto was called up in August to replace at and has been very impressive. The Argentine had driven in five Grands Prix so far and has scored the same number of points. His consistency has been impressive too - the 21-year-old has yet to finish a race below 12th position.

But it will not land him a permanent gig with Williams as they have already signed to partner in 2025 and beyond. So Colapinto, who has been a part of the team's driver development programme as he worked his way up the ranks, must find a new home to continue his F1 career.

Red Bull are open to providing that home. And even though in Mexico, what he said still spoke volumes: "When we are into a sensitive negotiation, you do not give away anything at this stage," was his reply.

The sticking point is the young Argentine's long-term future. Williams, of course, would like to remain affiliated with their sudden star while Red Bull, equally understandably, say they are not interested in a loan deal and would want to bring him under their own umbrella.

Even a significant fee offered to buy out his contract, understood to be north of £15million, has yet to convince to release his prized asset. So it will all likely depend on whether Red Bull are willing to open their chequebook further still.

They will not bat an eyelid at the fee for terminating Perez's contract, which is understood to be less than the difference in prize money between first and second place in the constructors' championship (which is around £7m).

But sponsor Telmex, owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and his family, has already said it will move on with Perez if he is axed, so that is a key financial element to consider. Colapinto's reputation is rapidly growing but he is not nearly as marketable as Perez who has an enormous fanbase in South America.

Vowles has said he would like to see Colapinto still on the F1 grid next year but, at the same time, he will not lose any sleep if the Argentine is simply their reserve driver instead. But as Williams posted significant financial losses for 2023, even though he does not want to let Colapinto go permanently, pressure from the boardroom could yet play a significant role in this saga.