Much has been made of Red Bull’s dilemma over Sergio Perez, yet as the Formula One summer break began, the team issued a statement affirming the Mexican driver would remain alongside Max Verstappen when racing resumes in Zandvoort.

Dr. Helmut Marko flew in to London for talks with Christian Horner over Checo’s future following the last round in Belgium. This after the Austrian had observed that Perez had “completely collapsed” during the Grand Prix in Spa. Having started on the front row, Sergio slipped through the field to finish in eighth, before George Russell’s disqualification saw him promoted up one place.

Yet at a team debrief Christian Horner told the assembled Red Bull team: “Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver despite recent speculation and we look forward to seeing him perform at tracks he has previously excelled at after the summer break.”

 

 

 

Marko pushing for Ricciardo out

There has been a debate this season created by Dr. Marko over when Red Bull Racing will offer one of its four seats to the impressive academy driver Liam Lawson. Following the signing of Checo’s new contract earlier this season the 81 year old Austrian said to Kleine Zeitung after the race in Barcelona: “The goal was that [Ricciardo] would be considered for Red Bull Racing with exceptional performances,” he said. “That seat now belongs to Sergio Pérez, so that plan is no longer valid.

“We have to put a young driver in there soon. That would be Liam Lawson.”

With Ricciardo unable to move back to his old seat, Marko was piling there pressure on Horner to ditch the Aussie mid-season in favour of bringing in Liam Lawson to the Racing Bulls. Yet the Red Bull boss remained adamant Ricciardo would remain and his faith was returned to some extent.

Further there has been some pushback on Dr. Marko’s junior driver focus as the CEO of the Racing Bulls, Peter Bayer explains: “I see a broader picture for the team,” explained Bayer. He suggested that having an experienced driver like Ricciardo would be beneficial to the development of Yuki Tsunoda.

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RB’s CEO backs Daniel

“In the long run, having an experienced teammate is not such a bad thing for Tsunoda. It is the famous big picture issue,” says Bayer.

“Yes, we need to develop young drivers, he [Marko] knows. But according to him, RB’s young driver [Tsunoda] is not yet ready for a move to Red Bull.”

This of course begs the question as to why Tsunoda was awarded a new contract for next season while Ricciardo remains in limbo and the Aussie’s seat is one of four left on the F1 grid yet to be confirmed for 2025.

The swift confirmation that Perez will not be ditched immediately, does not mean Red Bull will retain Checo to the end of the year. Further, Horner’s assertion the next ten F1 venues are to Sergio’s liking was not borne out last season with Perez claiming just two podiums after the summer break – He had five podiums plus two wins preceding the August shutdown.

Alonso F1 retirement

 

 

 

Ricciardo to “get the nod”

Ricciardo is still the Red Bull ‘Plan B’ should Checo not improve writes Lawrence Barretto for F1.com: “Ricciardo would likely get the nod,” he says.

Yet Marko would be pushing the talented Liam Lawson forward who debuted last year in Zandvoort when Richard broke his hand in a crash during practice with Oscar Piastri.

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Marko young driver propaganda

In a telling piece for Speedweek just before the summer break, Marko bigged up the Red Bull juniors drivers suggesting even their 17 year old may need the FIA to make an exception for him to gain a super license.

“During the summer break, we will also analyze and evaluate the performance of the Red Bull juniors in more detail,” Marko revealed.

“Hadjar took the lead in the F2 standings with his victory in the feature at Silverstone, we mustn’t forget that he was unlucky several times, there was the engine failure, then the reserve engine that didn’t work, and then the two fuel supply failures and twice he was also spun out through no fault of his own.

“Otherwise he would have been miles ahead in the championship.”

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Reds Bull to have a 17 year old

Marko also hinted that Red Bull would consider promoting Arvin Lindblad who won’t be 18 years of age until the summer break in 2025.

“Lindblad shone in Formula 3, having stepped up directly from Formula 4 to Formula 3 as a rookie and winning both races. He is only 16 years old and we are delighted that you can now drive Formula 1 again at 17. 

“But we’re staying calm and continuing to produce good results with our juniors, who are now enjoying more priority again and are also allowed to drive Formula 1 cars.”

Ayumu Iwassa also was mentioned as the Red Bull junior is competing in Japan’s Super Formula this season. Marko’s propaganda piece also contained a hint that it was time for Perez to hang up his driving boots.

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Marko hints Perez should go

“I can’t name any names, but there are drivers in the field who stagnate and are a bit better or worse depending on their mood,” said Marko. 

“They block the way for the young drivers. The teams are also afraid of juniors. Of course, they make mistakes, but I’d rather someone makes mistakes and is a hope for the future than there is no more improvement.”

Lawrence Barretto concludes: “It is believed Red Bull must give Lawson a seat at one of their teams for 2025 by September otherwise he’s free to go elsewhere,” adding, “Red Bull don’t want to lose him.

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Red Bull ruthlessness may yet be delivered

Over the last nine Grand Prix weekends, McLaren have been closing in on Red Bull’s lead in the constructors title race and were the gap to continue to close at the same rate, come the US Grand Prix in Austin McLaren will lead the championship.

The problem for Reed Bull is after Texas comes Mexico, where the team sponsors will be desperate to see their countrymen even if only for one last time.

The infamous Red Bull ruthlessness which has seen them ditch drivers more than once mid-season is a little more complex when it comes to the future of Sergio Perez.

US anti-competition investigation piles the pressure on F1

 

 

 

Red Bull claim their PU “better than Honda’s”

Red Bull claim their new PU setup to be ‘better than Honda’ – Red Bull Racing entered Formula One with a bang when they bought the ailing Jaguar Racing from Ford. Quickly the new kids on the block were challenging the paddock norms with pumping tunes deafening the pit lane post chequered flag and a double championship winning season in just their sixth year in the sport.

Their dominance with Sebastian Vettel claiming eight titles in four consecutive years (2010-2013) appeared to change the way a top F1 team was organised. Gone was the corporate interference from Ford as the Austrian Holding company gave Horner, Newey et al almost complete freedom to go about racing however they wished.

Renault were the perfect partner at the time to power Red Bull to their titles as the French company did what it has done best in its F1 history – build winning engines and not have the distraction of running a works team.