As the Formula One season paused for the summer break after the Belgian Grand Prix, questions about Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull intensified. Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Damon Hill suggested that Max Verstappen was putting pressure on Red Bull to replace Perez.
On the Monday following the Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull’s senior team members held crucial discussions about Perez’s position. Team principal Christian Horner later reassured the team that there would be no changes to the driver line-up for the remainder of the season. However, the decision comes at a precarious time for Perez, with his significant points deficit to Verstappen allowing Red Bull to activate a break clause in his new contract.
Despite being granted a reprieve, Perez remains at risk. If his performance does not improve between now and the Singapore Grand Prix, his position could be in jeopardy once again. Verstappen’s actions, such as leaving the Belgian GP circuit with Daniel Ricciardo, have fuelled speculation about potential replacements.
Ricciardo and Liam Lawson have reportedly been considered for Perez’s seat, with Verstappen seemingly favouring Ricciardo. Hill noted that Verstappen’s influence could play a crucial role in any future decisions regarding Perez’s position.
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Perez to finish season with Red Bull
In a decision that surprised many in the motorsport community, Sergio Perez has been granted a stay at Red Bull Racing, allowing him to finish the current Formula One season as Max Verstappen’s teammate. This decision will delay any potential changes to the team’s driver line-up until after the end of the season.
Perez’s tenure at Red Bull has been fraught with challenges and scrutiny. The Mexican has voiced concerns about perceived unfair treatment, feeling the weight of constant media attention and criticism more than some of his counterparts in the sport.
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Unequal treatment and media scrutiny about Red Bull
Sergio Perez has been open about what he perceives as an imbalance in the way he is treated compared to other drivers.
The Mexican complains that this Red Bull scrutiny is unfair and that he is at the centre of the media treatment.
According to a report by PlanetF1.com, Perez highlighted the disparity, noting, “I think if you look at it, there have been other drivers who have had a similar period of bad races, but it’s not as noticeable.”
The intense focus on the Red Bull drivers, Perez argues, only exacerbates the situation.
“I think at Red Bull there is always a lot of talk in the media, you are closely scrutinised and it is probably worse for the Red Bull drivers,” he added. This level of scrutiny, he suggests, puts the Red Bull drivers under a microscope, leading to harsher criticism.
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Familiar with the pressure
Despite the increased scrutiny, Perez remains somewhat unfazed, pointing out that dealing with pressure has been a constant throughout his career. “I grew up with it from the very beginning of my career,” explained Perez.
“If I didn’t win a race I didn’t know if I could win the next one. I think I’ve been under a lot of pressure throughout my career, so it’s no different in Formula 1.”
This long experience of high-pressure situations has prepared him well for the rigours of Formula One, according to Perez. He says that being used to pressure is part of being a Formula One driver.
Red Bull considering changes to RB20
When Red Bull decided to keep Sergio Perez for the rest of the season, it shocked many in the F1 world given his recent form on track. Perez recently finished seventh in the Belgian Grand Prix after starting second on the grid, a performance that drew criticism from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who remarked that Perez “completely collapsed” during the race.
Perez blamed his poor performance on a number of issues with his Red Bull RB20. Despite this, he failed to meet certain performance clauses in his contract. As a result, Red Bull held crunch talks after the Belgian Grand Prix, but Horner reaffirmed his confidence in Perez, ending weeks of speculation about possible changes.
Now it appears that Red Bull are prepared to take further steps to help Perez improve his form. According to journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm on The Race podcast, the team are considering changes to their upgrade plans for the upcoming races. The RB20, which began the season as the benchmark following the success of the RB19, has seen a number of upgrades, some of which have not worked as intended. These changes have had an impact on Perez’s performance and the team may reverse some of the upgrades in order to restore his confidence in the car.
Mitchell-Malm explained, “It’s quite likely, based on what I’ve heard, that there might be some rolling back of upgrades to get the car back to a state where Perez was comfortable and confident in the car. The theory is that if Perez can maximise the car’s potential before the latest upgrades, he will perform better than with the current configuration.”
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Eyes on Abu Dhabi
Despite a season marked by underwhelming performances, Perez remains hopeful of a turnaround. He emphasises the unpredictable nature of Formula One, where fortunes can change dramatically from one race to the next.
“There’s always a chance, that’s the beauty of this sport,” said Perez
“You’re only as good as your last race. So I’m really working on getting my season back on track, and that’s the main priority.”
Perez’s strategy is to focus on the remaining races of the season, with an eye on delivering strong performances. “We will just remember where I ended up after Abu Dhabi. So if I can have a few more good races and get my championship back on track, my season could be very different to what it is at the moment,” he explained.
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Critical voices and championship implications
Not everyone shares Perez’s optimism. Critics such as Christian Danner have been vocal about Perez’s performance. Writing for sport.de, the RTL expert did not mince his words, describing Perez’s performance as “an absolute disaster”. Danner went further, suggesting that if Perez’s form does not improve, he could threaten Red Bull’s position in the Constructors’ Championship. Red Bull currently hold a 42-point lead over McLaren, a margin that could narrow if Perez’s performances do not improve.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Perez finds himself in a challenging position, sitting in seventh place, a massive 146 points behind leader Max Verstappen.
Sergio Perez’s journey with Red Bull this season has been a turbulent one, marked by criticism and pressure. Despite facing scepticism from some quarters, Perez remains determined to prove his worth and finish the season on a high. With ten races remaining, the final reckoning will come in Abu Dhabi, where Perez hopes to rewrite the story of his season.
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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.
