Red Bull has once again found itself in the ‘Perez’ conundrum. Sergio Perez, a veteran RBR driver, disappointed the team again. Like in 2023, he began the season with zeal and consistently finished at the top. However, he has lost momentum in the middle, and the team’s hopes rest on Verstappen.
The Milton Keynes-based squad has been inconsistent owing to internal strife. The power struggle significantly impacted the team’s performance. Management took a safer strategy to mitigate the damage and re-signed Sergio Perez. The contract extension was intended to reduce entropy but has horribly backfired. The Mexican racer is going through a hard time. Helmut Marko has provided a brief insight into Red Bull Racing’s next steps and Sergio Perez’s future.
Sergio Perez’s Downturn Creates Roadblocks For Red Bull’s Winning Streak
The dominant Red Bull team is in a defensive mode as their world-title fortress is attacked. While Max Verstappen has repeatedly emerged as their saviour, his partner’s recent slump creates panic. The two teammates, driving almost identical cars, finish races miles apart. Sergio Perez, who is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, has disappointed his squad. Although the team principal, Christian Horner, retained him, showcasing faith in his experience, Checo has let them down. With a couple of DNFs, he is also hurting the team’s annual budget, which could be detrimental in the long run. The 34-year-old driver started this season with a high spirit as he bagged back-to-back podiums. However, eventually, Checo lost his touch, and now he is struggling to finish in the top six.
Talking about Sergio Perez, Helmut Marko affirmed that every F1 contract has an exit clause. Further, he explained that it is either based on performance or has an additional clause. However, the senior RBR advisor confirmed that the management will take the final call during the summer break. Subsequently, he opened up about the possible replacements available. Moreover, the veteran F1 executive believes the team will observe Liam Lawson, who is testing in Silverstone. On the other hand, Yuki Tsunoda has been performing well and could be directly placed into the RB20.
Checo’s F1 Career In Jeopardy As Christian Horner Open To Sign-In Yuki Tsunoda
Although Perez has a strong connection with team principal Christian Horner, it may not protect him from an early exit. Horner has not ruled out the prospect of Yuki Tsunoda succeeding Perez. In a recent media interview, he commended Tsunoda, describing him as a talented driver. He also stated that he would soon be tested in the RBR seat. Horner believes Tsunoda has learned a lot from Daniel Ricciardo, a veteran Australian who is his VCARB teammate.
