The well-oiled winning machine that was Red Bull Racing in 2023 now appears to be running on three wheels. The season kicked off with a bang, with the paddock buzzing over allegations about team boss Christian Horner’s behavior, although he was later cleared.
Max Verstappen stoked the fire even more by suggesting that under certain circumstances, he might leave the Milton Keynes team. Yet, he pledged his loyalty to Dr. Helmut Marko and the late Red Bull energy drinks empire founder, Didi Mateschitz.
Red Bull started the season strong, winning five of the first six races. The only hiccup was in Melbourne when a mechanical failure forced Verstappen to retire early. However, after Max’s victory in Emilia-Romagna, Red Bull led the team championship by 56 points from Ferrari, and Verstappen led Charles Leclerc by 48 points.
The next eight races saw a dramatic shift. Ferrari fell off, and McLaren, along with Mercedes, emerged as the main challenges. Verstappen extended his lead to 78 points, but his nearest competitor became Lando Norris. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez struggled, scoring only 28 points and dropping from P3 to P8 in the drivers’ standings.
As Red Bull approached the summer break, the constructors’ title race became much tighter, with McLaren closing the gap to just 42 points. Perez’s poor form was a big part of this slump; many believed he would be replaced before the next race in Zandvoort.
Despite the rumors and a short meeting in Milton Keynes, Sergio Perez was given a stay of execution. Reports even emerged that Disney and Liberty Media had influenced this decision. Yet, behind closed doors, Christian Horner and Dr. Helmut Marko told Verstappen, “Perez is gone.”
Perez’s performance in the Belgium Grand Prix didn’t help his case, as he finished a dismal P8 after starting second on the grid. Dr. Helmut Marko was scathing, saying, “Sergio had the opportunity to take a good result from second place. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Especially in the last stint, he completely collapsed.” Christian Horner also admitted that Perez’s lack of points was “unsustainable.”
Insiders had reported that Perez would be replaced by Daniel Ricciardo. However, something shifted dramatically over the next 24 hours, and for now, Checo remains with Red Bull. Rumors suggested Liberty Media and Disney had applied pressure to keep Perez.
Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing saw the departure of their long-serving sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. After 18 years with the team, he will join the Audi Formula One project as team principal, raising concerns about deeper issues within Red Bull.
All eyes are now on Perez as the season resumes. This may be his last chance to prove his worth, with four races before another month-long break, followed by the final six races in just eight weeks. If McLaren continues closing the gap, Red Bull might roll the dice, potentially bringing Ricciardo back to partner with Verstappen.
Red Bull Racing’s 2023 season has been anything but smooth. From internal disagreements to external pressures, the team faces numerous challenges. Whether they can regain their form and maintain their championship status remains to be seen. All eyes will be on their next moves as the season progresses.
