Sergio Perez is currently facing a prolonged dip in form, putting Red Bull’s World Title aspirations at risk. During the summer break, there were rumors that Perez would be replaced, but Christian Horner and the Red Bull team chose to keep him on for the rest of the 2025 season. This decision surprised many F1 experts, given Red Bull’s deep talent pool, which offers plenty of alternatives to replace the underperforming Perez.
Meanwhile, some reports hinted that Liberty Media, the company behind F1, may have influenced the decision to retain Perez. However, Helmut Marko dismissed these claims, stating that maintaining team stability was the main factor. Despite Red Bull’s continued support, Perez’s struggles persisted. He nearly secured a podium finish in Azerbaijan, but his race ended in a crash, further damaging Red Bull’s chances in the Constructors’ Championship. As a result, calls for Perez’s replacement have resurfaced due to his ongoing poor form, although some F1 pundits believe that replacing him is still “unthinkable” for Red Bull.
Sergio Perez’s Mexican Sponsors Safeguarding His Red Bull Seat
Former Williams team manager Peter Windsor discussed the complexities surrounding Red Bull’s decision to retain Sergio Perez. According to Windsor, it is highly unlikely that Perez will be replaced before the Mexican Grand Prix. He explained that if Red Bull were to consider replacing Perez, they would also have to factor in the financial contributions from Mexican sponsors tied to Perez. While Red Bull as a company might not view this sponsorship money as particularly significant, Windsor believes that Christian Horner likely sees it differently.
For Horner, ensuring the team remains financially stable is a priority, especially as Red Bull’s financial backing may not be guaranteed indefinitely. If that were the case, the team would need to move toward self-sufficiency. With Perez reportedly bringing in around 30 to 40 million dollars a year from sponsorship deals and still performing at a competitive level, Windsor suggested that Perez is one of the best pay drivers in Formula 1, making his replacement a challenging decision for Red Bull.
Can Red Bull Replace Sergio Perez Without Facing Monetary Loss?
Peter Windsor believes that the only way Red Bull could realistically replace Sergio Perez is by finding a driver who is not only fast but also brings comparable financial backing. While Windsor acknowledged that Red Bull might secure more points and defend their world title with a stronger driver, he also recognized the difficulty in replacing Perez’s brand value. Even if a quicker driver is available, matching Perez’s financial contributions would be nearly impossible. According to Windsor, many talented drivers are on the market, but few come with substantial sponsorship deals.
Currently, Perez sits eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, while Red Bull is trailing McLaren by 41 points in the Constructors’ standings. With six races remaining, it will be interesting to see if Red Bull is willing to take a financial gamble and seek a better alternative to Perez.