The conundrum that is Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing continues in Formula One. The Mexican driver thought his career in top line motorsport was finished when he was released from Racing Point at the end of the 2020 season to be replaced by Sebastian Vettel. Yet Red Bull Racing threw Checo a lifeline offering him a drive alongside Max Verstappen as Alex Albon was released from his contract.

His first season with the Milton Keynes squad saw Red Bull return to winning a championship as Max Verstappen went head to head with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to the very last lap of the year. While Max had his maiden F1 title, Reed Bull missed out on the contractors’ title given Perez failed to match the results of the number two Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas.

Bottas score of 226 points to Checo’s 190 was the difference Mercedes required as they took the team title with 613.5 points to Red Bull’s score of 585.5. Yet Red Bull’s failure to capture the constructors’ championship appeared to fade into the background as the titanic struggle between Hamilton and Verstappen came to a climax in Abu Dhabi with a one lap shootout following a late safety car.

 

 

 

Checo worst form ever

In 2022 the FIA instigated the biggest car design rule change in history and Red Bull clearly aced the problem set for them. Max won the drivers’ title from Charles Leclerc by 146 points and with Sergio coming a close third to the Ferrari driver the team championship was easily won by Red Bull Racing.

Then in 2023 Checo recovered from a mid season slump to claim P2 in the drivers’ championship and Red Bull were again team champions with 860 points to Mercedes 409n in P2.

This year again Checo started well but has suffered a disastrous run of results over the past five events. Sergio has scored just 15 points to Max 101 and Red Bull are behind both Mercedes and McLaren in total points claimed since Miami. Sky F1 presenter Naomi Schiff recently observed Checo’s slump was similar to last season, but in fact she underestimates how poorly Perez is going this season. In the 20 races Sergio completed in 2023 he only finished outside the top six on three occasions.

This season already Checo has missed a top six finish in five of the last six Grand Prix and Red Bull are suffering in the constructors’ championship because of these results. Coming into Silverstone in 2023 Red Bull Racing had a 199 points lead in the team championship whereas now the lead is just 64 points.

FIA powerless to punish Max further

 

 

 

Marko suggests Checo move imminent

Whilst for many the drivers’ championship is the blue ribbon event, the team title for the employees brings far more benefits. With Red Bull only scoring the third most points in the preceding five races the questions to Christian Horner about Perez’s performance and future are becoming more pointed.

German publication AMuS now reports Perez is close to the edge of being ditched by Red Bull. Performance clauses in Checo’s shiny new contract are not being met and Red Bull are considering bench mark testing Perez by promoting Daniel Ricciardo alongside Verstappen in the very near future.

Dr. Helmut Marko who consults to the Red Bull organisation has even suggested the switch could take place before the summer break as the pressure ramps up on Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver sat out FP1 in Silverstone as the team fulfilled the FIA regulation of putting a young driver in the second Red Bull car.

With rain threatening the latter stages of FP2 the drivers did the hot lap simulations much earlier than usual in the session and this meant the late running Perez managed to finish the session in P3 behind the two McLaren’s. 

Marko responds to engine problems at Red Bull

 

 

 

Horner coded reply

In a wet FP2 Perez could only manage a time month quickest and with qualifying set to be in mixed conditions, Checo must target a top ten shootout slot if he is not to face even more harsh media attention.

At the Silverstone on Friday the Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was grilled by Sky F1 presenter Simon Lazenby. He pointedly questioned whether Red Bull had been hasty in giving Sergio a contract after just five races this year, something Horner was check his reply before an honest assessment.

“That’s a brutally hard question,” said Horner after taking a deep breath. “Of course, at the point you sign a driver the contents of any agreement are not going to be disclosed with the likes of you lot.”

This rather strange and defensive response speaks volumes about Perez tenuous position. Clearly Horner is implying should the decision to re-sign Checo be proven hasty, the team have options in terms of exit clauses they can enact.

Steiner hits out at Newey Ferrari move

 

 

 

Horner defends his decision

“It made absolute sense to sign Sergio at that point in time. This is a business where there’s pressure to deliver,” added Horner. “Sergio’s had a tough spell and his first five races were very competitive. It’s the last five have been nowhere.”

With Ferrari being nowhere since their victory in Monaco the pressure on Red Bull Racing is now coming from McLaren. Despite failing to score points in Austria with Lando Norris at the rate the British team have been closing over the last five weekends, the battle for the team championship could be close come the final act of the year in Abu Dhabi.

“We want to see the Sergio from the first five back. He knows that. He’s aware of that,” said Horner offering hope to his struggling driver.“He’s been working hard on that. He’s been in the sim this week. He’s working hard to understand where it’s not just playing out for him.

“What we’ve constantly seen with him is that resilience to bounce back. We’re hoping to see that very soon.”

FIA face heavy criticism from around the paddock

 

 

 

Ricciardo now with options

Yet as already noted, this year is different from the previous three when Perez has been driving for the Red Bull team. The field has closed down the Red Bull huge advantage and with Max wining just three of the last six races, the team title is no forgone conclusion.

Paddock rumours are suggesting that a revival in Daniel Ricciardo’s form may see him replace Sergio but now the Williams outfit a reportedly looking to sign the Aussie driver given Carlos Sainz Luke warm interest.

Sainz to join Alpine

 

 

 

“Lack of respect”, Zak brown slams Red Bull

There never seems to be a dull moment in Formula One, especially when it comes to Red Bull Racing and their team principal, Christian Horner. The latest episode in this ongoing drama came a week after a heated exchange with Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner at Spielberg, now McLaren boss Zak Brown has aimed vitriol at Horner and his team during a press conference at Silverstone on Friday.

The catalyst for Brown’s criticism was the behaviour of Red Bull officials following the collision between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix. British team McLaren set the pace in practice for their home race in Great Britain, both on the laps and in the long runs, but are not too proud of their performance… READ MORE