As Formula One reaches its fourteenth round in Belgium, the Red Bull team has several questions to answer. Post-Belgian GP teams will get a summer break, allowing them to re-analyze their strategies. The biggest concern for the current table-toppers RBR is finalizing the driver line-up.
The team management made a brave decision to retain Sergio Perez in th middle of the season. Although the goal was to reduce the entropy, it somehow backfired. The Mexican driver has struggled to find the momentum, jeopardizing the team’s world title run. Thus, a few names could influence the Milton Keynes-based outfit to make the final call after the summer break.
Red Bull Exploring Options Amid Perez Dilemma
McLaren’s recent 1-2 finish in the Hungary GP has aggravated Red Bull’s second-driver woes. While Max Verstappen is putting everything on the line to win races, his partner Checo struggles to score points. As a result, Horner & co. had to take the hard call. Practically, the best option for the Austria-based squad is to back Perez’s experience and let him do his things. However, a few names on the grid could force the team to make a risky decision. The VCARB driver Daniel Ricciardo is the first name to be a like-to-like replacement for Perez. As the Australian racer is Horner’s favorite short-term option choice, he could partner up with his friend Verstappen. Despite a terrible start to the season, Ricciardo has rediscovered the mojo since the Candian GP. He consistently scores more points and would be the right choice with his experience.
Next up is Liam Lawson, who has captured everyone’s attention recently. Although the New Zealander is a reserved driver for both RB teams, he seems ready to steer at the highest motorsport level. Moreover, if RBR decides to replace Perez with Ricciardo, Lawson would still have an opportunity to get a permanent seat in VCARB. Further, Ricciardo’s VCARB teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, has been impressive throughout the season. Despite recent struggle, he looks like a potential candidate for the RBR seat. However, he is Helmut Marko’s favorite, who has less control over driver choice than Horner.
Ultimately, Red Bull could surprise everyone by sticking with Sergio Perez for the remainder of the season. Thus, the upcoming Spa race could possibly be a stern test for the Mexican, as it could be his last race in RB20. Moreover, Checo feels more confident after the recent upgrades, as he is now comfortable in teh car. Therefore, he would like to put on a show about his abilities on the Belgian racing circuit.
Checo Remains Calm Despite The Loud External Noises
During an interview with Sky Sports, Sergio Perez stated that he is anxious to get out of his current slump. As the game heats up, the 34-year-old Mexican is desperate to gain points for his squad. Furthermore, he described anything other than his performance as an unavoidable external noise inherent in the F1 sport.
