As the F1 cars roared to life in hot Budapest, all eyes were on Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, feeling the heat in more ways than one. With his team boss Christian Horner openly saying Perez’s recent poor form is “unsustainable,” the pressure is mounting. Horner has reportedly given Perez a two-race deadline to turn things around, starting this weekend.
When asked about his looming deadline during media day, Perez sidestepped contract discussions but admitted, “The next two races are very important for me.” In other words, his seat is on the line. Despite his confidence in staying with Red Bull through the end of the season, Perez knows he must deliver strong results.
Perez admits he hasn’t been performing at his best, scoring just 15 points over the last six races. However, he also points to team strategy as a factor, describing it as a “throw of the dice.” While taking responsibility for his mistakes, he explained, “We had a really strong Friday, but then I messed up in Silverstone in qualifying.” He remains hopeful, saying, “Let’s ride the rollercoaster and hopefully get back on form very soon.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo is also feeling the heat. He’s the only Red Bull driver without a contract for next season. Helmut Marko hinted that plans to replace Perez with Ricciardo haven’t panned out, suggesting Liam Lawson as a possible contender. Ricciardo acknowledges the importance of the upcoming races, stating, “These two weekends are probably the most important of the season. If I do what I know I can, then maybe good things will happen.”
The stakes are high, not just for individual drivers, but for the entire Red Bull team. They lead the constructors’ championship by 71 points, a far cry from last year’s 256-point lead at this stage. McLaren has outscored them by 56 points over the past six races, putting Red Bull’s title hopes in jeopardy. Dr. Helmut Marko stressed that Perez’s lack of points affects the team, saying, “It also brings unrest to the workforce. The bonuses paid to employees are based on their position in the Constructors’ Championship.”
Marko confirmed that Perez’s new contract has exit clauses for poor performance. Rumor has it that Perez must close the gap to teammate Max Verstappen to 100 points by the summer break to keep his seat. Currently, the gap is 137 points. Even if Perez wins the next two races, Verstappen would need to have unusually poor results for the gap to narrow sufficiently.
With all this drama, it’s clear that the next two races are critical. If Perez and Ricciardo don’t deliver, Red Bull’s driver lineup could see some major changes. And with junior drivers like Liam Lawson waiting in the wings, the competition is fiercer than ever.
The next two races are make-or-break for Sergio Perez. Under immense pressure, he needs strong performances to secure his future with Red Bull. Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo is also racing against the clock, aiming to prove he deserves a spot. With the constructors’ championship also on the line, Red Bull must weigh every move carefully. Whether Perez can turn his season around or Ricciardo steps up remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—the F1 drama is just heating up.
