The Red Bull has again found itself stuck in the ‘Perez’ dilemma. The experienced RBR driver, Sergio Perez, has disappointed the team again. Like 2023, he started the season enthusiastically and consistently finished at the top. However, he has lost momentum in the middle, and the team’s hopes are hinged on Verstappen.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit has been patchy due to internal mayhem. The power struggle was so prominent that it affected the team’s performance. However, to contain the damage, the management opted for a safer approach and re-signed Sergio Perez. While the contract extension was primarily to bring down the entropy, it has severely backfired. The Mexican racer is enduring a rough patch. On the other hand, former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montaya made a shocking discovery about Checo’s slump.
This Is The Reason Why Checo Can’t Match Verstappen’s Pace
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are miles apart on the leader’s board. While the Dutchman is the protagonist of Red Bull, Checo has a supporting role. However, having two strong drivers is a prerequisite for winning the constructor’s title. Moreover, the RBR duo occupied the top two spots in 2023, while the dynamics are opposite in 2024. Although Verstappen is still on P1 at the halfway mark, Perez is not even in the top five, lagging behind McLaren and Ferrari drivers. Additionally, with increasing competition from all directions, the energy drink-based outfit needs support from both drivers. Therefore, Perez’s performance in the last six races is a big sign of worry. While everyone blames the Mexican for his slump, Pablo Montoya has a different outlook.
The former F1 driver explained that the reason for the disparity between the two drivers of the same team is their F1 car. Montoya claims Verstappen has a superior RB20 setup than Pere, giving him the upper hand. Although F1 teams are bound to maintain two identical cars with similar specifications, Montoya has pointed out a difference between the two Red Bull cars. Furthermore, he explained that Checo’s RB20 had balancing issues, preventing it from navigating the curves smoothly. Moreover, he is confident an uneven configuration is causing trouble for the Mexican racer. To back his assertion, Pererz had not been criticized by any RBR personnel, which is different from his 2023 slump. Thus, according to Montoya, the squad is aware of the discrepancies among the two cars and is not expecting any better performance.
Christian Horner Considering An Academy Driver To Replace Perez
Whether there is a discrepancy among the cars remains uncertain. However, Checo’s Red Bull Racing seat is certain to be in jeopardy. Although Perez shares a great bond with team principal Christian Horner, it might not safeguard him against an early exit.
Horner has not ruled out the possibility of Yuki Tsunoda replacing Perez. In a recent media interaction, he praised Tsunoda, claiming him to be a talented driver. He also asserted that he might soon get a test in the RBR seat. Horner feels Tsunoda has learned much from Daniel Ricciardo, as the experienced Australian is his VCARB teammate.