Formula One is an extravagant speed festival with 24 races in a season. With exhilarating racing machines and precise driving skills, F1 has it all. However, the money invested in the sports places it among the most affluent motorsports. Thus, the team owners and the sponsors extract a heavy chunk of profit after each season.
But to keep the money flowing, teams need star-studded drivers with massive fan followings. Stars like Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Sergio Perez are the faces of their respective teams. A Formula E driver recently made a shocking statement, suggesting that Checo’s retention at RBR is linked to his ability to attract financial backing.
Formula E Driver Labels Checo As Red Bull’s Golden Goose
In an interview with Total Motorsport, Formula E driver Mitch Evans discussed the potential reasons for Perez’s retention. The New Zealander stated that drivers have the ability to bring in the money for the team. Further, he gave the example of Perez, who keeps bringing money for Red Bull. Therefore, Evans believes there is no competition for the ability to make money as a driver. He emphasized that albeit Checo is not a bad driver, his money-making ability makes him untouchable. Extending his point, Evans pointed out the Formula 1 driver who joined Formula E but got a reality check. According to Evans, it is due to the disparity in merit. Further, he labeled De Vries’ failure as a shame, which put the entire E-racing community in a bad light.
Checo has been an integral part of the Red Bull team. However, his recent slump has put RBR management under scrutiny. The Mexican starlet has not finished on the podium since the Chinese GP in April. Further, he is trailing by 146 points behind his teammate Max Verstappen. Therefore, F1 aficionados predicted one of the VCARB drivers would replace the struggling racer. Surprisingly, the Milton Keynes-based outfit put faith in the racer experience for the remainder of 2024. This instigated an online theory claiming RBR’s decision to be influenced by F1 stakeholder Liberty Media. However, Helmut Marko quashed the speculations, backing Checo’s driving abilities.
Red Bull Chief Backs Perez Despite Stretched Slump
However, Marko is not the only one backing Checo’s racing abilities. Red Bull chief Christian Horner is a constant supporter of the Mexican driver. Despite an underwhelming string of performances, Horner is confident of Perez’s solid comeback.
In a recent interview, the Briton called Perez a tough racer, claiming he is more worried about his performance than anybody else. Further, Hornery highlighted Checo’s resilience as he is willing to showcase his capabilities.
