Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull is under intense scrutiny as the team considers their driver lineup ahead of the August decision window. Despite his contract extension, Perez’s recent performance dip has triggered discussions about potential changes.
Perez began the season with promise, securing three second-place finishes behind Max Verstappen in the first four races and a podium in China. However, his form took a turn for the worse post-April 21, failing to land on the podium for seven straight races and only once finishing in the top six. This downturn has impacted Red Bull’s quest for the Constructors’ Championship, as they face new challenges from McLaren and Mercedes.
The rumors of Perez’s contract containing an exit clause gained traction, suggesting Red Bull could replace him during the summer break. Although specific details remain undisclosed, it is believed that the clause is performance-dependent, with a particular focus on his points deficit to Verstappen, which currently stands at 137.
Helmut Marko, when questioned about these clauses, affirmed that exit clauses are common in F1 contracts, particularly based on performance metrics. Marko stated, “All Formula 1 contracts have exit clauses, most of them related to performance or let’s say for the top drivers.” He indicated that Red Bull’s final decision would be made post-summer break evaluation.
If Perez is to be replaced, potential candidates include Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, and possibly Liam Lawson, who is set to test at Silverstone. Nevertheless, Marko has not hinted at a favorite, explaining, “First we have to see. Lawson is testing at Silverstone on Thursday. And yeah, so two more races and there will be more outings with Lawson. There’s also Yuki Tsunoda who is doing very well.”
Meanwhile, Dutch pundit Allard Kalff expressed skepticism about any driver thriving as Red Bull’s No.2, pointing out the team’s car is optimized for Verstappen’s driving style. Kalff opined, “Now we have a situation where the car doesn’t work again and so the second driver is simply screwed, because it doesn’t matter who you put in it. They don’t do anything with that car.”
As Perez grapples with pressure from within the team and the competition intensifies, the coming weeks are crucial for Red Bull’s driver strategy. The decision in August could define not only Perez’s future but also the team’s championship prospects.
