Sergio Perez’s recent crash record is causing quite a stir in the Formula 1 world as he racks up a staggering bill for his team at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
In a season already fraught with challenges, Sergio Perez’s recent performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix has added another dent in Red Bull’s budget. Previously, the Mexican driver encountered his biggest crash at the Monaco Grand Prix, which was set in motion when Kevin Magnussen rear-ended him at the start. This mishap cost Red Bull close to two million euros.
However, at the Hungarian GP, Perez’s misjudgment in Q1, where rain made the conditions tricky, saw him take too much kerb at Turn 8, losing control and slamming into the barriers. The consequence was severe damage to both the rear and front ends of his RB20, necessitating a range of replacements from the nose and front wing to the rear wing, sidepods, and floor. Repairs of this magnitude reportedly summing up to €999,000, which elevated his repair costs for the current season to €3,793,200.
The situation has escalated to a point where Red Bull has spent more on repairs for Perez than Williams has for Alex Albon, exceeding it by €300,000. Under the current budget cap regulations, such repair bills leave teams with less room to invest in car upgrades. It puts Perez in a precarious position, especially with Red Bull management contemplating driver line-ups over the summer break. As team principal Christian Horner noted, it’s crucial to address such issues internally, albeit the external pressure mounts.
Perez’s underperformance underscores the disparity between him and his teammate, Max Verstappen, with Perez having scored 124 points to Verstappen’s 265. As the season progresses, the 34-year-old driver needs significant improvement to secure his future at Red Bull.
Sergio Perez’s crashes have undeniably cost Red Bull a significant sum, adding pressure on both Perez and the team as they navigate budget constraints and performance demands.
