Last Updated on November 30 2023, 11:12 am

Sergio Perez has had an underwhelming 2023 Formula One season, scoring less than half the points of his team mate in the all conquering RB19. Max Verstappen indeed would have beaten his team mate had he either rested for the year after just eleven aces or indeed had he forfeited the first eleven competing only in the second half of the year.

Red Bull Racing are known for replacing their drivers with little emotion based on poor performances and whilst Perez contract for 2024 has been repeatedly reaffirmed by team boss Christian Horner, the writing is on the wall for the Mexican driver.

 

 

 

Ricciardo ‘back stop’ for Perez

Having ditched the promising Nyck De Vries after just ten races this year, Red Bull re-appointed Daniel Ricciardo alongside Yuki Tsunoda in the junior AlphaTauri squad.

On his third outing for the team in Zandvoort, Ricciardo came across a stricken McLaren during practice an unable to avoid Oscar Piastri T-boned the striker Papaya liveried car and broke his hand.

This saw him out for five race weekend and Red Bull promoted their junior New Zealand driver, Liam Lawson, as his replacement.

With little preparation, Lawson acquitted himself admirably finishing ahead of the vastly more experienced Tsunoda in three of their five races together.

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Lawson the real deal

Yet in Suzuka, Red Bull confirmed Tsunoda for another year as behind the scenes wrangling with Honda saw the Japanese driver win out over Lawson for the full time AlphTauri drive in 2024.

At the time the decision looked as though it could go either way and a number of paddock observers believe it was Honda who swung the deal in favour of their countryman.

With one seat still up for grabs at Williams as team boss ponders the future of the lacklustre Logan Sargeant this year, Lawson would be in the frame to replace the American at the Grove based team next year.

However, ex-F1 driver and Sky pundit Karun Chandhok believes Lawson would turn down the chance should it come, and wait it out for his turn at the Red Bull junior squad.

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Lawson gamble on refusing Williams drive

Speaking on this weeks Sky podcast, Chandhok commented: “I don’t think Lawson will take the Williams opportunity because he genuinely is keeping an eye on that Red Bull thing.”

Chandhok is unsure whether Perez will even start next year with Red Bull Racing as the team may decide to pay up the final year of his contract.

“What happens? Do they start the season with Checo? If that doesn’t work out, do they stick Daniel in the Red Bull? In which case, do they put Liam in the AlphaTauri?

“From Liam’s standpoint, he’s going, ‘Hang on a second, I might take this gamble here and not upset the Red Bull family’. Because you can’t sign with Williams, even on loan for Red Bull, and then leave mid-season – so I think he’s gambling on something opening up perhaps in the early part of next year.”

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Mercedes junior ready as Sergeant replacement

Its uncertain as to whether Williams will retain Sargeant and team boss James Vowles insistence he wants to go through the seasons data again before making a decision on try eAmerican – seems somewhat bizarre.

One thing Formula One teams do better than most other sports is real time data crunching and Williams will in no doubt be on top of all the variables affecting Logan Sergeants rookie season.

In reality, should Williams ditch Sargeant it may not be Lawson they look to replace him anyway given the impressive performance of Mercedes junior driver Frederik Vesti this year in F2.

Vesti impresses during his outing in Lewis Hamilton’s car in practice one in Abu Dhabi and a number of F1 writers believe the data from Vesti was something Vowles was waiting for before making his decision for 2024.

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Wolff rules out influencing Williams

Given Williams are a Mercedes’ customer and that Vowles worked closely with Toto Wolff for many years, Vesti could benefit from this relationship in Williams deliberations about Alex Albon’s partner for next season.

Earlier this year the German media reported that Toto Wolff was keen for Williams to replace Sargeant with Mick Schumacher who Mercedes picked up as a reserve driver when he was ditched by Haas in 2022.

However in Abu Dhabi Toto Wolff explicitly ruled out trying to put pressure on Vowles or Williams as they decide who their driver line up will be for next year.

One thing is for certain, Liam Lawson will be the next junior driver Red Bull try out in F1 an Sergio Perez days are numbered with the world championship team unless he pulls of a remarkable turnaround in form.

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Marko believes Perez finished at RBR

Helmut Marko has repeatedly expressed his influential views on Checo and after poor performances in Japan and Qatar, the Red Bull advisor issued his sternest warning yet to Perez.

“You mustn’t forget, I brought him to the team back then,” Marko told Austrian news outlet OE24. “But this is simply Verstappen’s fate, he is suffering now. That was already the case with Gasly, after a weak performance at the Red Bull Ring, he was already lapped at the next race in Hungary.”

Gerhard Berger had already suggested Sergio find a new team for his own good and to deliver a mental reset.

“Seen this way, [Gerhard] Berger’s statement [about Perez] is the right one: He needs a change in climate and team. Now let’s see how the next two races go. But the team and he are aware that he is in a crisis,” Marko concluded.

 

 

2023 TV AUDIENCE FAILURE SENDS A STARK MESSAGE TO F1 OWNERS

Formula One has been determined to ‘crack America’ for decades and with the much hyped Las Vegas Grand Prix this was surely the season the sport’s promoters hoped audiences would grow. Yet disturbing TV viewing numbers now released suggests interest in the US may have peaked and are on the wain.

Since the commercial rights were purchased to F1 by Liberty Media interest stateside has grown significantly much of which has been due to them opening up access to the paddock for Netflix Drive to Survive series…. READ MORE….