Defending champion Max Verstappen is jostling to keep Red Bull Racing alive in the constructors championship alone as he is yet to receive significant support from Mexican teammate Sergio Perez. Despite a two-year extension contract, Checo hasn’t been able to translate the confidence and faith on the track.
Sergio Perez crashed multiple times in the first half of the season already before finishing P17 at the Silverstone Grand Prix. Amid speculations of a potential replacement, Max Verstappen indirectly slipped the name of his ideal choice of teammate at Red Bull’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, thus leaving Sergio Perez embarrassed on live TV.
Max Verstappen Wants To Team Up With Daniel Ricciardo?
Red Bull Racing appears to have got their priorities wrong as moments after agreeing to a two-year extension contract, Sergio Perez has showcased massive signs of decline. Since the day of the extension announcement, Checo retired in Monaco and Montreal and went P8 in Spain, P7 in Austria, and P17 in Silverstone. Moreover, if reports are to be believed, Checo’s extension contract consists of a performance clause that allows Red Bull to terminate the deal if the Mexican driver’s points deficit to teammate Max Verstappen raises over 100 points. Currently, Perez is 138 points behind his teammate, and it’s only a matter of time before Red Bull starts to ask questions.
That being said, former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo, who is driving for sister team V-Carb this year, is being tipped as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez. Amid the speculations, Max Verstappen subtly confirmed the rumors at the team’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Max was asked if he would like to return to drive at Goodwood, and he responded by saying he would love to come back with Riccardo. “Maybe together with Daniel Ricciardo, we’ll be good fun in one car,” Verstappen said. Notably, Checo, who was right beside Max Verstappen, got uncomfortable with the answer as the hosts rubbed salt on his wounds by referring to Max and Daniel as ideal teammates. Needless to say, the pressure is more than ever on Checo as F1 heads into the Summer break following the Belgian GP. A decision on his future at Red Bull is imminent, and things are not looking good.
Helmut Marko Expects A Decision On Checo By Summer Break
Meanwhile, Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko confirmed the rumors of a probable performance clause in Sergio Perez’s extension contract. Marko said such clauses are not uncommon in F1 and that Red Bull will take a final call by the summer break. However, Marko refused to spill out potential replacement candidates’ names.
Daniel Ricciardo, by far, stands the best chance out of all available options. However, the Australian driver has to prove himself as well. He needs to outclass teammate Yuki Tsunoda and score points as often as he can to boost his candidature. Otherwise, Red Bull won’t mind looking for external options as their seat is the most prized one on the grid.
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