Max Verstappen and dad Jos clash as Red Bull ponder sacking decision

Jos Verstappen has thrown his support behind as a potential replacement for at next year, despite making it clear he is not keen on changing team-mates.

The 27-year-old racing prodigy is on the cusp of securing his fourth consecutive F1 championship following his triumph at the last weekend. That victory marked his first in 11 races but, while it nudged him closer to the drivers title, it did little to impact the outcome of the constructors' championship.

While Verstappen produced some of his best racing, team-mate Perez put in another lacklustre performance. The Mexican racer finished down in 11th in Sao Paulo, which was a step up from his 17th place in Mexico City but not enough to challenge or in their title pursuits.

After signing a one-year extension with Red Bull in June, Perez's recent string of underwhelming results have piled pressure on the team to cut ties with him ahead of 2025. And, speaking to Viaplay, has made it clear that is what he would like to see happen.

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The Dutch former F1 racer emphasised the need for his son to have a "competitive" team-mate who "pushes" him, and hinted that he would welcome rising star Lawson stepping up from sister team RB and into Perez's shoes next season.

The 52-year-old said: "I think Lawson is doing very well. It seems logical to me that he is ready to step up. Let him finish this season and build confidence and then the team has to decide what they do for next year," reports .

"I certainly do not oppose that [Lawson replacing Perez]. It is better if there is someone who is competitive and pushes Max forward a bit. That always helps, but we will see."

That view is in direct conflict with what his son wants, though. Max has expressed his desire to have Perez continue as his team-mate, heaping praise on "a great racer" and "a great guy" in a season during which the inter-personal dynamics at Red Bull Racing have been in sharp focus.

Verstappen told Fox Sports back in September: "I want of course Checo to be my team-mate. He is a great guy, we get on really well, plus he is a great racer. I always said that, right? It is all about stability and also how we feel in the team. I said that at the summer break as well. I said I think we have other worries than having to think about the second car. For me that is not on the table."

Earlier this month, Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko disclosed plans to make a firm decision on Perez's situation after the season concludes. "Checo has a contract for next year, but we are evaluating the whole situation. After Abu Dhabi we will know all the facts and we will make our decision," the Austrian, who is understood to be keen on signing Franco Colapinto to race for RB next season and promoting Lawson to replace Perez, said.