Pérez’s season problems: Red Bull’s costly gamble on a struggling driver as millions are at stake: Red Bull’s financial and performance struggles with Sergio Pérez – As the 2024 Formula One season draws to a close, Red Bull Racing’s Mexican driver, Sergio Pérez, finds himself in the crosshairs of criticism.
Despite being provided with one of the most competitive cars on the grid, the same RB20 that has powered teammate Max Verstappen to another dominant season, Pérez has failed to make a consistent mark. In the last 15 races, the 34-year-old has failed to finish in the top five, a performance slump that has not only affected the team’s position, but has also had serious financial implications for Red Bull.
The price of Perez crash bill this season
Financial Toll: Red Bull’s slide from first to third place
The consequences are significant: for the first time since 2021, Red Bull is expected to miss out on the coveted Constructors’ Championship, a title they have held with authority in recent years.
Currently in third place, Red Bull are now trailing McLaren and Ferrari, a gap that has widened to 49 points from the former and 13 from the latter. This discrepancy between Verstappen’s performance and Pérez’s continued struggles is proving a bitter pill for Red Bull to swallow, potentially costing the team millions in missed bonuses and other financial incentives.
The impact of Pérez’s performance extends beyond the track. According to calculations by Sport Bild, Red Bull’s expected drop from first to third place in the constructors’ championship could result in a significant loss of around 18 million euros in Formula One performance bonuses.
These bonuses are awarded on the basis of a team’s performance, with higher positions in the standings translating into higher financial payouts.
For Red Bull, a team accustomed to dominating the Constructors’ Championship, the potential financial shortfall is a severe blow. While third place is now all but assured, with a comfortable 162-point lead over Mercedes in fourth, the gap between Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari remains problematic. That gap not only affects Red Bull’s end-of-season bonuses, but also raises questions about the team’s investment in Pérez and the returns they are – or aren’t – seeing from that investment.
Williams to miss Las Vegas Grand Prix
Sergio Pérez’s costly contract and uncertain future
Pérez’s performance issues are compounded by the high cost of his contract, rumoured to be in the region of €10 million per year. Despite being contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2026, the team appear ready to move on from Pérez. According to various media sources, Red Bull are already exploring options to part ways with him before the end of his contract, which could include negotiating an early release or offering him a different role within the team.
Reports suggest that Red Bull are considering options such as bringing in Liam Lawson or Franco Colapinto, two promising young drivers, to replace Pérez. Liam Lawson, currently a rising star, is thought to be the preferred choice of Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, who has openly expressed his desire to see Lawson join Max in the Red Bull team in 2025.
F1 race director “sacked” mystery
Negotiations are underway: Seeking a mutually beneficial exit
Despite the contractual hurdles, Red Bull are working to find a way for Pérez to leave the team in a way that minimises financial loss for both parties. If the Mexican driver were to leave the team immediately, Red Bull could be forced to pay out his entire contract, which could be extremely costly. As an alternative, Red Bull are reportedly exploring the possibility of keeping Pérez in another role, possibly as a brand ambassador for Red Bull Racing.
Pérez’s popularity in Mexico and throughout Central America lends weight to this suggestion. The driver, who has become a cultural icon in the region, could continue to represent Red Bull as a non-driving ambassador, allowing the brand to maintain its foothold in the Central and Latin American markets. It would be a win-win situation for both parties: Pérez would have a graceful exit from his racing role and Red Bull could continue to capitalise on his popularity without bearing the full financial burden of his current contract.
Wolff reveals he chose n to to intervene during Hamilton/Ferrari talks
The Verstappen factor: How Pérez’s struggles highlight Red Bull’s reliance on its star driver
Pérez’s struggles this season have highlighted Red Bull’s reliance on Max Verstappen. The Dutchman has not only been the face of the team, but has delivered the kind of results that have kept Red Bull in the championship conversation. Verstappen’s continued excellence has masked some of the problems within Red Bull’s line-up, but with Pérez consistently underperforming, the team’s overall standings are beginning to reflect those weaknesses.
Verstappen’s relationship with Red Bull is rock solid and his success in the RB20 this season shows that the car is still very competitive. But with only one driver regularly exploiting the car’s potential, Red Bull’s points tally is suffering.
Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, has been vocal in his support for Liam Lawson as a potential replacement for Pérez, seeing the young driver as a better partner for his son and a more consistent contributor to the team’s success.
Classic F1 track to be dropped
Red Bull’s search for Pérez replacement: Who’s next in line?
The two drivers most often mentioned as potential successors to Pérez are Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson. Lawson has had some experience on the F1 grid, filling in for Daniel Ricciardo earlier this season and showing impressive performances under pressure.
Colapinto, while less experienced, is seen as a promising talent and his potential could fit in well with Red Bull’s emphasis on developing young, aggressive drivers.
Jos Verstappen’s support for Lawson could also play a role in Red Bull’s decision-making process. With Red Bull currently in need of a consistent points scorer alongside Verstappen, Lawson’s recent performances make him a favourable candidate. However, Colapinto’s skills and potential could also appeal to Red Bull, particularly if they are looking to bring in fresh talent from outside the existing F1 driver line-up.
Colapinto or Lawson? Max names his favourite
A season of high stakes and tough decisions
For Red Bull, the ongoing problems with Sergio Pérez are more than just a performance setback – they represent a financial and strategic challenge that could have repercussions well beyond this season. With millions of dollars at stake and an increasingly competitive Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull is facing tough decisions about its driver line-up and long-term plans. As the 2024 season draws to a close, Red Bull’s focus is likely to shift from saving the championship to planning for the future.
Whether Red Bull decides to replace Pérez with a young driver like Lawson or Colapinto, or to keep him in an ambassador role, the outcome will shape the team’s trajectory for years to come. The team must balance its need for immediate results with its desire to maintain a competitive edge in a sport where every point – and every million – counts.
READ MORE – The F1 teams Perez rejected this year to remain at Red Bull
MORE F1 NEWS – Williams to miss the Las Vegas Grand Prix
Formula One is seeing unprecedented times. At the recent Sao Paulo Grand Prix, qualifying was postponed from its regular Saturday slot and listed for sunrise on Sunday morning.
Further due to the torrential rain expected on race day, the mandated four hour time period between qualifying and the race was shortened to two and a half hours which meant Williams did not have the time to rebuild Alex Albon’s car following his crash in qualifying.
Moving a Grand Prix forward an hour and a half was also unprecedented in the modern era as the sport is highly sensitive to the scheduling of the TV companies who bring in around 25% of F1’s revenue…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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.
