After initially winning in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has fallen behind his teammate, Max Verstappen. He failed to make it out of Q3 in qualifying sessions three times in a row. Not only that, the Mexican driver sits 69 points behind his Red Bull teammate in the driver’s championship despite driving equal machinery.
Hence, rumors started floating around that the Red Bull camp is miffed with Sergio Perez’s performance and is apparently looking for replacements. The team’s reserve driver, Daniel Ricciardo, is also being tested for the role. While Perez’s future hangs in the balance, the Verstappen camp has issued a statement to convey that they are largely unaffected by the rumors.
Max Verstappen’s Manager Claims The Dutch Driver Is Not Afraid Of Competition
Red Bull Racing’s young and dynamic driver, Max Verstappen, has asserted his dominance in the sport of F1 in a very short span. At just 25 years of age, the Dutch driver has smashed long, withstanding records. Even in equal machinery, he has beaten his current teammate, Sergio Perez, effortlessly. Hence, for the moment, Verstappen remains the undisputed champion of F1 and faces no competition after all. However, things could change if Red Bull decides to replace Perez mid-season due to his subpar performance. Not only that, the chances are that Perez’s replacement could pose a threat to Verstappen in the future.
Amid this, Max Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has issued a strong statement. He said that anyone is free to beat the Dutch driver on the track. The material is the same for everyone, and the fight is open for all. Raymond is confident that Verstappen possesses the ability to defeat any driver with the current RB19. Overall, the manager meant to convey that the Verstappen camp is largely unaffected by Sergio Perez‘s replacement talks. They are solely focused on leveling up their performance, and what goes on the other side is none of their concern. Earlier, Max took a sly dig at Perez when he said that without him, Red Bull’s results would not have been the same. Overall, all these statements suggest that all is not well between the Red Bull drivers.
Red Bull Advisor Looking For Sergio Perez’s Successor
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s chief motorsport advisor, has sparked a row with his recent comments on the future of Sergio Perez. The veteran said that Perez’s initial plan was to stay for two to three years. Hence, as his tenure is coming to an end, the team seems less interested in extending his stay. Marko confirmed that Red Bull is indeed looking for an option to replace the Mexican driver in the near future. The top name for the role is none other than the team’s reserve driver, Daniel Ricciardo.
The Australian native left McLaren to join Red Bull as a third driver for the 2023 season. However, he intends to return to the grid in 2024. Hence, the drink-based team has decided to test him out in the latter half of the season. If Daniel matches the team standards, he could eat up Perez’s seat next season. Overall, Sergio Perez’s future with Red Bull is under serious threat. He needs some special performances from hereon to secure his seat.
