Red Bull’s Sergio Perez is facing uncertainty over his F1 future, with concerns raised about his poor performance by former Red Bull driver Jaime Alguersuari. The former Red Bull Toro Rosso driver knows first hand how the management within Red Bull go about doing things, himself a victim of Dr Helmut Marko’s proverbial axe.
Speculation has been swirling about Daniel Ricciardo’s return to Formula One with AlphaTauri and the possibility of a hidden clause in his contract that could pave the way for a future drive with Red Bull as a replacement for Sergio Perez.
Perez under threat from Ricciardo
Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle raised eyebrows with his remarks, hinting that Ricciardo might have additional plans in place if he impresses while racing for the Italian team.
The move to AlphaTauri has sparked rumours among pundits that it could be a strategic move for Ricciardo to eventually reunite with his former team and teammate, Max Verstappen, at Red Bull. Brundle further fueled the speculation by suggesting that Ricciardo may have agreed to the AlphaTauri deal with the understanding that it could lead to exciting prospects in the future.
Addressing Ricciardo’s earlier comments about needing to regain his enthusiasm and mojo, Brundle shared his belief that the Australian driver might not have taken the AlphaTauri opportunity unless there was a more significant deal on the horizon. He hinted that the current deal could serve as a stepping stone for a potential return to the Red Bull fold.
As the season unfolds, fans and pundits alike will closely watch Ricciardo’s performance with AlphaTauri and whether any hidden clauses in his contract will come to light. With both teams’ fortunes and dynamics evolving, the plot surrounding Ricciardo’s career trajectory adds another layer of intrigue to the F1 season.
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A chaotic start in Hungary back in 2021, where 6 out of the 20 drivers DNF! #F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/cW48wPzIZt
— James 🇬🇧🏁 (@James_UK7) July 17, 2023
Perez recent form a ‘sackable offence’
Alguersuari suggested that Perez’s recent form may amount to a “sackable offence,” indicating that the Mexican driver’s position within the team could be in jeopardy.
Despite having a dominant car at his disposal, Perez has struggled to match the pace of his teammate, Max Verstappen, failing to make it to the final part of qualifying in the last five races. He has been eliminated in Q1 three times, including the British Grand Prix.
Alguersuari highlighted that it is not acceptable for Perez to consistently be half a second or seven-tenths slower than his teammate. He stressed that if Verstappen is winning races, Perez should at least be contending for podium finishes, rather than struggling to achieve them even on his best day.
“Not acceptable” performances
The former Toro Rosso driver believes that Red Bull has the right to consider replacing Perez if his performance does not improve, emphasizing that many drivers on the grid could perform closer to Verstappen.
“It’s not acceptable that Perez is always half a second or seven-tenths slower. If your team-mate is winning all the races, you have to at least be on the podium, not on your best day being on the podium.” says the Spaniard,
“You have to be closer otherwise they have the right to replace you. There are many drivers on the grid that could definitely be much closer to Max.”
Talks with other drivers besides Ricciardo
Perez is contracted with Red Bull until the end of 2024, but his position could be in jeopardy if his poor results persist. The recent decision to replace Nyck de Vries with Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri has further fueled speculation about Perez’s future at Red Bull.
Reports have surfaced that Red Bull has held talks with other drivers, including Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, potentially indicating their openness to explore alternative options.
Alguersuari pointed out that Perez has not come through Red Bull’s junior team, unlike himself, and speculated that Perez might not have lasted as long within the team if he had a similar background.
He commented: “We have to be clear that Checo was never in the junior team. If he was, considering how Helmut Marko judges drivers, he would not have lasted a year. You have a winning car and have to use it. I know people will think, ‘what are you saying, your best place was seventh?’ I didn’t have a chance to drive a winning car and I’m just saying your first rival is your team-mate.”
With pressure mounting, Perez will need to improve his performance and close the gap to Verstappen to secure his place within the team and avoid any potential shake-ups in the future.
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