Sergio Perez delivered a bold message over the radio during the Belgian Grand Prix, punctuating a turbulent period for the Red Bull driver.
Just when the rumor mill surrounding Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull was at its peak, an explosive team radio message from him emerged. During the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, the Mexican driver confidently declared, ‘f*** them all,’ a sentiment that captured his tenacity and resolve in the face of ongoing uncertainties about his seat with the team.
It was confirmed on Monday that Perez would remain with Red Bull for the remainder of the F1 2024 season, despite rampant conjecture about his position alongside Max Verstappen. This announcement followed a rigorous mid-season review involving team leader Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko. Perez’s recent performances had cast a shadow over his future, with a contract clause reportedly allowing Red Bull to release him if he fell more than 100 points behind Verstappen by the summer break. As of the Belgian Grand Prix, Perez’s gap had widened to 146 points, raising eyebrows given his slip from second on the grid to eighth position.
Interestingly, Perez’s dip in form came despite a commendable showing in the wet qualifying conditions at Spa-Francorchamps, where he secured third place on the starting grid – his best since April’s Chinese Grand Prix. This effort was all the more impressive due to his use of worn intermediate tires, unlike competitors such as Hamilton, Russell, Norris, and Piastri, who were equipped with fresh sets. Perez’s defiance was clear when his engineer, Hugh Bird, highlighted this achievement, prompting Perez’s emphatic response, ‘Yeah. F*** them all.’
While Marko expressed his disappointment over Perez’s race performance, suggesting the driver had ‘completely collapsed,’ praises for his resilience and past successes lingered. Among these was a memorable victory in Baku, where he led a Red Bull one-two finish earlier in the season. As Red Bull confirmed his continuation, Horner remarked that the team is eager to witness Perez’s prowess at circuits where he traditionally excels after the summer hiatus, including the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September.
With Red Bull’s reaffirmation of Sergio Perez, the driver is once again poised to demonstrate his mettle in the F1 circuit. The pressure may be mounting, but Perez’s unyielding spirit promises theatrical performances as the season progresses.
