A dominant force in Formula 1, Red Bull Racing found itself at a pivotal point in 2023, with speculation surrounding the future of its driver line-up. Despite finishing as the top two drivers in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez had markedly different seasons, leading to intense discussions within the team about the ideal teammate for Verstappen.
Max Verstappen’s performance in 2023 was nothing short of spectacular. He clinched his third consecutive world title and dominated the season with 19 wins from 22 races. Sergio Perez, however, despite finishing runner-up, had an inconsistent season. His early strong performances were overshadowed by a series of qualifying struggles and fewer podium finishes, allowing rivals such as Lewis Hamilton to almost overtake him in the standings.
Analysing the performance gap
Sergio Perez started the 2023 season on a high, with two wins and a second place in the first five races. This promising start raised high expectations for the Mexican. However, as the season progressed, Perez’s performance declined significantly, particularly from the Monaco Grand Prix onwards.
A series of disappointing races, including a run of five Grands Prix in which he failed to make Q3 – the final round of qualifying – marked a turning point in his season.
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The struggle to maintain form
Despite the early success, Perez struggled to maintain form throughout the season. After the strong start, he only managed five more podium finishes. This inconsistency allowed rivals such as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to close in on second place in the championship, a position Perez held.
In stark contrast, Max Verstappen’s season has been one of commanding success. The Dutchman added a third world title to his name and led a staggering 1003 laps throughout the season. Not only was this figure indicative of Verstappen’s skill and consistency, but it also highlighted the extent to which he eclipsed his team-mate in terms of race leadership and control.
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The revealing statistic
The disparity between Verstappen and Perez was highlighted by Canadian statistician Daniel Valente. In his post-season calculations, Valente revealed a telling statistic: Max Verstappen led more laps in the 2023 season than Sergio Perez finished in the top 10.
Specifically, while Verstappen led 1003 laps, Perez completed 974 laps in the top 10. This statistic not only underlines Verstappen’s dominance, but also reflects Perez’s struggles, particularly in qualifying.
Mika Hakkinen’s perspective on Perez’s role
Speaking to Unibet, former F1 champion Mika Hakkinen, a respected figure in the Formula One community, gave a candid assessment of Sergio Perez’s performance in comparison to his teammate Max Verstappen.
“In this case, Perez is slower than Max. That’s very clear,” said Hakkinen, highlighting the performance gap between the two drivers.
Hakkinen was keen to point out that being the slower team-mate isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as certain conditions are met. He emphasised the importance of the slower driver accepting his position, communicating effectively with the team and the media, contributing to the development of the car and staying motivated.
If the slower driver can stay within three to four tenths of a second of his quicker team-mate, Hakkinen believes it is an acceptable situation for the team.
“If the slower teammate accepts the situation, is able to clearly communicate with the team and the media, is able to develop the car, is motivated and can stay within three, four tenths of the faster teammate, then I don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s an okay situation.” said the Finn.
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The need for team changes
However, the situation becomes problematic when the slower team-mate starts complaining, blames the team for the car’s poor performance or shows a lack of motivation. In such cases, Hakkinen suggested that fluctuating results could have a negative impact on the team, necessitating a change in driver line-up.
“But if the teammate starts complaining, the team accuses him of not giving him a good car, is not motivated and the results fluctuate a lot, that’s not good for the team. Then the team has to start making changes.” said Hakkinen.
“I know it’s important for Red Bull to have a Mexican driver. Mexico is a large sales market and that has its effect on certain things.
“But in the end you are here to race and achieve good results and to develop the car faster. You can’t build on one driver alone. You have to have two drivers at a certain level to develop the car. Is Perez’s future with Red Bull? I think this is highly unlikely.”
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Despite the market considerations, Hakkinen stressed that the ultimate goal in Formula One is to race competitively, achieve good results and develop the car efficiently. A team cannot rely on one driver alone; it needs two drivers performing at a high level to develop the car and maintain competitive racing.
In light of these factors, Hakkinen expressed doubts about Perez’s future at Red Bull. While acknowledging Perez’s contributions, he hinted that Perez’s position may not be secure due to the need for consistent high performance and development contributions from both drivers, lest they be caught up by their rivals.
Verstappen wishes for McLaren drivers to replace Perez
As Red Bull considered changes to their driver line-up, attention turned to who Verstappen would prefer as his new team-mate. According to El Nacional, it is an “open secret” that Sergio Perez will be leaving Red Bull this year when his contract ends.
According to the Catalan online newspaper, the only question now is who will replace the veteran. The decision to fill the second cockpit should be made in close consultation between the team management and Verstappen.
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were among the top candidates. High on the Dutchman’s wish list is Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The McLaren drivers have emerged as the three-time world champion’s closest rivals after the British team struggled at the start of the 2023 season.
Piastri impressed Horner
Piastri, in particular, attracted attention with an impressive rookie season, leading Red Bull team boss Christian Horner to publicly express his regret at not securing Piastri earlier in his career.
Horner recently made no secret of his enthusiasm for the Australian in public.
“Oscar is an extraordinary talent. We would have had the opportunity to come to terms with him in his formative years, but we didn’t take the opportunity we had. And I regret that in hindsight, because he could have been the next Max Verstappen can be,” Horner said in the Netflix series “Drive To Survive.”
The decision-making process at Red Bull
The decision to fill the second Red Bull cockpit was not taken lightly. It required close consultation between team management and Verstappen, taking into account a number of factors including team dynamics, driver compatibility and development potential. Given the team’s dominance in the sport, ensuring the right combination of drivers was crucial to maintaining their winning ways.
Red Bull Racing’s situation in 2023 has highlighted the complexities and strategic considerations involved in Formula 1 team management. While Verstappen’s exceptional performance cemented his position as a leading driver, the debate over Perez’s role and the potential introduction of a new teammate such as Norris or Piastri highlighted the ever-evolving nature of team dynamics in the sport.
As Red Bull looked to the future, the focus remained on striking the right balance to ensure continued success in the fiercely competitive world of Formula One. It can’t be lost on Red Bull, that the sharks are circling as the other top teams’ performance development converges on the Champions.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
