Red Bull Racing has shown its faith in Sergio Perez by extending his contract for another two years ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. Despite this vote of confidence, Perez continues to struggle in qualifying. Saturday’s session in Montreal saw him drop out of Q1 and start the race from a disappointing 16th position.

Red Bull Racing has ended speculation about its 2025 driver line-up by extending Sergio Perez’s contract for a further two years. The decision has significant implications for various stakeholders within the Formula One paddock. While it signals stability for Perez, it also has implications for other drivers’ careers and Red Bull’s internal dynamics. Certainly Helmut Marko, a significant part of that internal dynamic, was quick to point out Perez failing at Montreal.

 

Perez’s position strengthened amid qualifying struggles

Despite securing a new two-year contract, Sergio Perez’s recent performances have raised eyebrows. His qualifying woes continued at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he retired in Q1 and only managed 16th on the grid. This ongoing struggle in qualifying contrasts sharply with Red Bull’s decisive vote of confidence in extending his contract.

Red Bull are known for their ruthless approach to driver management, as evidenced by their treatment of Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly. With Perez, however, they have shown a willingness to keep faith.

His first contracts were one-year deals, but in 2022 Red Bull offered him a two-year extension to secure his place within the team. This latest deal further cements his place, suggesting the team believe he can fulfil his role as a reliable deputy to Max Verstappen.

 

 

Horner benefits from Perez contract in power struggle

Perez’s contract extension is also a victory for Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner. There have been reports of a power struggle within Red Bull, with Helmut Marko favouring the promotion of younger talent such as Liam Lawson.

Marko has been openly critical of Perez, at times making controversial comments. However, Perez’s new deal shows Horner’s growing influence and preference for stability over radical changes in the driver line-up.

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Implications for Ricciardo, Sainz & Tsunoda

Daniel Ricciardo’s hopes of a return to Red Bull have been dealt a severe blow by the two year deal. Having rejoined the Red Bull family for the 2023 season, many speculated that Ricciardo was being groomed to replace Perez. However, Perez’s new contract has effectively closed that door.

Ricciardo, who has struggled for consistency, now faces an uncertain future. With both drivers similar in age, Red Bull’s decision suggests they see more immediate value in Perez.

Carlos Sainz finds himself in a difficult position in F1’s game of musical chairs. Once considered a prime candidate for a seat at Red Bull, Mercedes or Audi, Perez’s extension removes Red Bull from his list of potential destinations. With Fernando Alonso staying at Aston Martin, Sainz’s options are dwindling.

Mercedes may still be an option, but reports suggest that they prefer to promote young talent from within. Sainz now faces the possibility of settling for a less competitive team or waiting for another opportunity.

Yuki Tsunoda’s impressive start to the season has not translated into serious consideration for a Red Bull seat. Perez’s contract extension sends a clear message that Red Bull do not see Tsunoda as part of their immediate plans. Despite his strong performances, Tsunoda remains on the sidelines with limited prospects for promotion to the main Red Bull team.

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Dr Helmut Marko: Sergio Perez has ‘Mental issues’

Perez’s recent misfortune in Monaco highlighted the dangers facing drivers on the track. In that race, Kevin Magnussen’s manoeuvre forced Perez into the wall just after the first corner, ending the race prematurely for the six-time Grand Prix winner.

However, Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko believes that Perez’s ongoing problems in qualifying cannot be solely attributed to on-track incidents. Marko pointed out that Perez’s struggles have been evident since his early days in the sport.

“It’s not the fault of the car, you can see that with Max,” Marko told ServusTV.

“I think it’s more psychological.”

Perez’s performance on Saturday was a case in point. He finished just 37 thousandths of a second behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who took the 15th place needed to qualify for the next round.

“It was close,” said Marko, adding that the changing conditions added to Perez’s difficulties.

“But the fact that it is the third time is painful.”

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Perez’s frustration and tyre problems

Perez himself expressed his frustration after his Q1 exit, attributing his poor performance to problems with the rear axle. “I had problems with the rear axle and I paid the price. I had no grip, I was sliding too much and unfortunately our qualifying was a total disaster,” he told Sky.

“It’s a massive frustration,” admitted Perez, noting that the session had been re-scheduled due to changing weather conditions.

“It was a strange session for a lot of cars out there. We had a lot of problems in those conditions, especially with the rear, and we need to understand what the reasons were.”

While admitting that, with hindsight, there were things they could have done better, Perez also criticised the overall pace of the car.

“We lacked a bit of pace today,” he said. The main problem at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, according to Perez, was the tyres.

“The tyres were the main problem, even more than the kerbs,” he explained, highlighting another weakness for Red Bull in Canada.

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Race ahead

Despite his struggles in qualifying, Perez remains cautiously optimistic about his chances in the race. Unlike Monaco, where overtaking is notoriously difficult, he believes there is more potential for progress in Montreal.

“I think we can get through here. We just have to understand the problems and go from there,” he said.

Perez is also aware of the increasingly competitive field, noting that Red Bull are not the only team facing challenges.

“If you look at Ferrari, they were on pole in Monaco and this track is not so different,” he noted. Nevertheless, Perez remains focused on the bigger picture.

“It’s a long season. At the end of the day, the only thing that counts is where we finish in Abu Dhabi,” he concluded.

Red Bull’s competitive edge relies not only on the performance of its cars, but also on the mental strength of its drivers.

With Max Verstappen’s continued success demonstrating the car’s capabilities, Perez’s improvement in qualifying will be key to the team’s overall success in the championship.

Irony is not lost on the fact the Mexican gets a long contract, then his performance slumps. Marko will be there to remind everyone.

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As the news embargo ended at 15:30 local time in Canada, Christian Horner confirmed Yuki Tsunoda will remain with the RB team for the next two years. The Japanese driver was rumoured to be living the team the end of last season, as insiders close to the team revealed Christian Horner wanted him out and Liam Lawson in.

Tsunoda’s team mate Daniel Ricciardo, who was brought back by Horner to beef up the Red Bull junior squad following his exit from McLaren, was expected to eventually replace Sergio Perez who at the time was suffering a poor run of…READ MORE ON THIS STORY