The speculation over Sergio Perez future has been frenzied for some time, but the recent mood music from the Mexican’s camp has been super positive. Checo surprised a number of senior F1 observers with his adamant claims in Austin and Mexico City that he would be racing with Red Bull in 2025.

As Formula One entered its summer break, paddock whispers were strong that Sergio would not return after the four week vacation, with widespread reports of a contract exit clause that Red Bull could enact should Checo be more than 100 points behind his team mate.

Yet Red Bull quickly made it clear, they would be retaining their driver line up for at least the next four Grand Prix as they believed some of Sergio’s favoured circuits were coming up. He has previous wins in both Baku and Singapore, but this year Checo was to fair poorly across the fours events before the new Autumn break.

 

 

 

Red Bull cool over Colapinto

Just 11 points from the Netherlands to Singapore meant Perez fell down through the order to become the lowest scoring driver amongst the top four teams, yet Red Bull refused to replace him. Reports emerged that the team had organised a secret private test amongst their pool of drivers with the result being Checo was quicker than any of those who could replace him.

In recent weeks the word has been that Red Bull have been speaking with Williams about their star young driver Franco Colapinto. Yet this weekend in Las Vegas that interest was said to have cooled given the Argentinian’s recent string of barrier busting crashes.

Perez failed to make it out of the first qualifying session in the Nevada nighttime and starting the Grand Prix in P16, he gambled on the hardest tyre compound hoping to move forward as others pitted for fresh rubber. Yet the low grip circuit causing the cars to slide around caused the tyres to grain which blew his strategy.

Checo made it through to P2 as those around him on softer tyres began to pit, but the Red Bull driver could only make it to lap 20 of 50 before he was forced to switch to the mediums. This compound was never going to make it through the rest of the Grand Prix and the inevitable was to come as Perez stopped again for another set of medium tyres.

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Perez blames team strategy

He went on to come home in P10, scoring just a single point for the Red Bull cause. On a night when Ferrari scored big, the world champions slipped to 30 points behind the Scuderia who closed the gap to McLaren to just 24.

“We definitely had a lot better pace than where we finished, but I don’t think we maximised the result, but we got the strategy wrong today unfortunately,” said Checo.

“I think we really need to solve the issues we’ve had this year. I think the team knows exactly where we are at, and Red Bull is the best team, and I believe that we can have a much better car for next year.”

Once again Perez is assertive about his future, yet one influential character in the Red Bull camp may now have signalled the end of the Mexican’s tenure with the Milton Keynes based team. Despite Max Verstappen winning his fourth consecutive F1 driver’s title, Red Bull slipped further behind in the constructors’ title race, something Dr. Helmut Marko addressed after the chequered flag.

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Dr. Marko calls for change

“We have to have two drivers who finish in the points,” he told DAZN. “Max is more than 200 points ahead of Sergio. For now, the main thing was to win the championship for Max.

“But for our employees it is a disappointment. Because they will not receive their bonuses, as they depend on our position in the constructors’ championship. And there’s no chance we can win it.”

In some ways the situation at Red Bull and V-CARB is similar to this time last season, with Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson doing their best to impress their masters and stake a claim for the drive alongside Max Verstappen. With just 21 points since the summer break, Marko has made it clear – something needs to change and its the team mate of Max Verstappen.

Tsunoda has stepped up this season and is leading the charge for V-CARB with 30 of their 46 points. The Japanese driver has been handed the end of season post Abu Dhabi test in the Red Bull car, which means Lawson will remain with V-CARB given only one experienced driver per team is allowed.

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Verstappen ‘disguised’ the cars weakness

Marko was vocal about the achievements of Sergio’s team mate in Las Vegas, suggesting it was Max who single handed won the title this year – not Red Bull.  “Am I most proud of this title, after everything that has happened this year? Yes, definitely,” the Austrian told assembled media.

“It was a very difficult year, with a lot of different difficult situations, but we stayed together. I think the championship in 2021 was psychologically very tough but this season, the wake-up call may have come too late.”

“He managed to disguise the car’s weakness through his incredible talent. He remained calm and always got the most out of it. He used his brain when he needed to.”

Max Verstappen won seven of the first ten races this season and his win in Brazil means he scored more than double the number of wins of the other six Grand Prix winners this season. He becomes only the fifth driver in history to achieve four consecutive titles alongside the greats like Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen 4th title, he reveals plans for 2025

 

 

 

Horner reignites feud with Toto Wolff

Horner opens up about scandal and reignites feud with Wolff – Formula One is no stranger to high-stakes drama, but rarely does the off-track action match the intensity of the races themselves. Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner has once again found himself at the centre of controversy, this time opening up about the aftermath of a high-profile scandal involving allegations of misconduct.

In a candid interview with the *Daily Mail*, Horner not only reflected on the personal and professional toll of the allegations, but also took aim at his long-time rival, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, escalating a feud that has been simmering for years… READ MORE