Last Updated on September 25 2024, 9:56 am

Red Bull’s wake-up call to Sergio Perez has been issued by team boss Christian Horner as the Mexican struggles yet again in Singapore. Sergio Perez’s performance at the Singapore Grand Prix was a significant disappointment, prompting Red Bull Racing to send an unmistakable message to their second driver.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has openly stated that both drivers need to be “firing on all cylinders” as Perez’s inconsistencies continue to hinder the team’s championship push. The Mexican failed to impress on the challenging streets of Marina Bay and was once again overshadowed by teammate Max Verstappen’s podium finish.

This latest wake-up call for Perez comes after a frustrating performance in Singapore, where he only managed a tenth-place finish, highlighting a growing concern within the Red Bull camp.

While Perez has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, his inability to replicate Verstappen’s consistency is causing tension at a critical point in the Constructors’ Championship race.

 

 

 

 

Perez’s struggles in Singapore

The Singapore Grand Prix should have been an opportunity for Perez to reassert himself as a top driver. After a promising start to the season, with a particularly strong performance in Azerbaijan, there was a sense of optimism surrounding the Mexican’s prospects. However, his performance in Singapore once again exposed the gap between him and not just Verstappen, but other top-line F1 drivers on the grid.

Starting from a lowly 13th place on the grid after retiring in Q2, Perez’s race was already an uphill battle. While he made up three places at the start to move up to tenth, his race quickly stagnated.

Unable to overtake Williams rookie Franco Colapinto in the first stint, Perez’s progress ground to a halt. As the race progressed, the Mexican lost further ground during the pit stop phase, surrendering his position to the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz. To add to his frustration, Perez spent much of the race trapped behind Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas, unable to find a way past.

Christian Horner summed up Perez’s race succinctly, acknowledging his good start but pointing to the difficulties that followed: “Checo, he was stuck around Hulkenberg for basically 30 laps. He qualified out of position and then he really struggled to overtake. Horner also highlighted Perez’s struggles for traction, particularly in critical areas of the circuit, which further hampered his ability to make progress.”

 

 

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Horner’s public call for improvement

Horner’s post-race comments were a stark reminder that patience is wearing thin at Red Bull. The team are locked in a fierce battle with McLaren for the Constructors’ Championship, with their rivals consistently putting both drivers on the podium. Verstappen’s strong performances alone are not enough to keep Red Bull at the top of the standings, and Perez’s lack of form is costing them valuable points.

Horner stressed the importance of both drivers contributing to the team’s efforts: “I think we need to have two riders firing on all cylinders… Checo had a good weekend last weekend [in Baku]. He had a difficult weekend this weekend. He went on to emphasise the importance of Perez stringing together a series of strong performances, much like McLaren have done with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.”

The fact that McLaren’s improved form has made them a real threat to Red Bull’s supremacy underlines the urgency of the situation.

“We need to put together a couple of weekends where you can see McLaren putting two drivers on the podium. It’s those big points that really make a difference,” said Horner, stressing that Perez needs to step up his game to keep Red Bull in the title hunt.

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McLaren closing gap in constructors’ championship

The pressure on Perez is not just about his individual performance, but the bigger picture of the Constructors’ Championship. Verstappen’s consistent podium finishes have kept Red Bull competitive, but McLaren’s resurgence, led by Norris and Piastri, is becoming a major threat. McLaren have been steadily closing the gap and their ability to put both drivers on the podium is something Red Bull will now have to contend with.

Verstappen’s second place in Singapore was not enough to prevent Red Bull from losing further ground to McLaren, and the gap between the two teams in the Constructors’ Championship is now 41 points.

This widening gap has positioned McLaren as a serious contender for the championship, and with both their drivers performing consistently, Red Bull’s reliance on Verstappen alone is becoming increasingly apparent.

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Perez’s frustration with Red Bull’s strategy

Amidst the criticism, Perez has voiced his own concerns, particularly regarding Red Bull’s strategy during the Singapore race. He believes the team could have been more aggressive, especially during the pit-stop phase, to help him make more progress through the field. Pointing to the strategy employed by Ferrari for Carlos Sainz, Perez suggested that Red Bull missed an opportunity to undercut several drivers and gain positions.

Reflecting on the race, Perez said, “I think also the strategy, if you look at it, if you look at where Carlos finished, we probably lost an opportunity to make more progress and undercut more people.”

He explained that once he was on a similar tyre age to those around him, particularly Nico Hulkenberg, there was little he could do to improve his position.

While Perez’s comments about strategy are valid, they do not entirely absolve him of responsibility for his lacklustre race. The inability to capitalise on an aggressive strategy, even when the opportunity presented itself, only adds to the growing list of concerns for Red Bull’s second driver.

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Red Bull’s dilemma: what next for Perez?

The situation at Red Bull is becoming increasingly delicate. On the one hand, Perez has shown that he is capable of matching and at times even outperforming Verstappen, as he did earlier in the season. But his inconsistencies are proving costly, especially in a year when the rise of McLaren threatens to disrupt Red Bull’s dominance.

Horner’s public comments are a clear signal that the team needs more from Perez. With the Constructors’ Championship still very much in play, both drivers will be expected to deliver week in and week out. However, Perez’s struggles in Singapore underline the gap between those expectations and reality.

With the struggles on track for Perez, along with an ultimatum issued by Christain Horner at the start of the summer break that he expects the Mexican to bring home good results after being reviewed, strong paddock rumour suggests retirement for the team mate of Max Verstappen.

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Perez’s ultimatum

Sergio Perez has come under increasing pressure after a difficult season, with his struggles highlighted by Dr Helmut Marko following the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. Perez started the race on the front row but slipped down the order, eventually finishing eighth before being promoted to seventh following the disqualification of George Russell. Marko was openly critical, suggesting that Perez had “completely collapsed” during the race, casting further doubt on his ability to remain competitive.

Despite this, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has publicly backed Perez, stating during a team debrief that Perez remains a valued member of Red Bull Racing, but the team principal issued an ultimatum to the Mexican.

“Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver, despite recent speculation, and we look forward to seeing him after the summer break on tracks where he has previously excelled,” Horner reassured the team. However, that statement seems to come with a caveat: Perez will need to perform consistently in the remaining races of the season to secure his seat for 2025.

Now that consistency already seems in doubt, plans may be afoot to reinstate Daniel Ricciardo as team mate to Max Verstappen, despite the odd ‘farewells’ in Singapore. The fact is, nothing has changed at Red Bull.

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MORE F1 NEWS: Ricciardo replaces retired Perez?

Allard Kalff, a respected Dutch journalist with good insight into Red Bull, suspects Perez played role in Ricciardo’s F1 sacking and uncertain position – Daniel Ricciardo’s time with the Red Bull Racing Team appears to be coming to an end as speculation mounts over his departure from the Austin-based outfit. Despite the rumours circulating.

Red Bull Racing have yet to make an official announcement. Dutch motorsport journalist Allard Kalff recently shared his thoughts on the matter, revealing a deeper understanding of the delay and the uncertainty surrounding Ricciardo’s future…READ MORE ON THIS STORY