As the car development war takes a new turn, teams shift to top gear to dethrone Red Bull. The Milton Keynes-based outfit has been unstoppable since 2021, winning three consecutive world titles. Meanwhile, no other team has managed to match RBR’s pace, with their car standing out as the fastest on the grid.
However, the 2024 season has brought the team a bunch of miseries. First, team principal Christian Horner was involved in a sexual misconduct case, which spurred tension. Later, an internal power struggle resulted in a vile environment. After serving for two decades, Adrian Newey decided to part ways with the team. Consequently, this ongoing mayhem has adversely impacted the team’s on-track performance. The slump in Sergio Perez’s performance is a sign of worry as it might cost them the constructor’s title.
Checo’s Imola Struggles Could Jeopardize Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship
The start of the season was similar to last year when Red Bull bagged 1-2 at Bahrain. Thus, this made everyone believe that 2024 would be a replica of 2023 as RBR continues to shine. However, teams such as Ferrari and McLaren have made significant strides in improvement, posing tough competition for the reigning champions. While Max Verstappen helped RBR to clinch the fifth silverware of the season, it was only after a locked-in battle with Lando Norris. However, despite the triumph, Ferrari has reduced the point difference as they trail Red Bul by 56 points. On the flip side, McLaren, boasting better momentum than Ferrari, is emerging as an elite team.
Red Bull’s biggest concern is Sergio Perez’s underwhelming performance. While Max Verstappen won almost every race in 2023, his teammate had a dismal qualification performance. Similarly, in 2024, despite a strong start, Perez is back to a shoddy performance in qualifying sessions. The F1 insider, Tim Hauraney, has voiced his concern for Red Bull. During the Apex Nailing podcast, Hauraney emphasized that the Mexican driver needs to narrow the gap between his teammate and him. Failure to do so could potentially jeopardize his team’s chances of securing the constructors’ cup. Additionally, Hauraney believes that Red Bull might miss out on this year’s title as Ferrari is closing the points gap. Also, McLaren and Ferrari racers consistently finish in the top five, giving them an edge over RBR. Thus, pressure on Verstappen will keep mounting if Checo’s slump continues.
Horner Remains Coy About Perez’s Future with Red Bull
As Checo finished at P8 and P11 on Sunday and Saturday, questions over his place in the team got louder. Christian Horner has shared his thoughts on the Mexcian drivers’ performance. He stated Perez needed to up his game to match Verstappen. Further, he elaborated on how qualification affected Perez’s chances in the Sunday race.
However, Horner remains mum on the Checo’s contract extension. The team may explore its options as the F1 grid is set to shuffle in 2025. Hence, it’s imperative for Perez to deliver strong performances if he hopes to secure his position as a Red Bull driver.
