Red Bull faces a dilemma with Sergio Perez as they navigate the balance between car development and driver performance. Here’s a quick breakdown of the key points.
- Perez struggled to reach the podium for nine consecutive races and scored significantly fewer points than teammate Max Verstappen.
- A crucial post-Belgian Grand Prix meeting determined Perez would retain his seat after the summer break, with team boss Christian Horner affirming support for Perez.
- Technical director Pierre Wache emphasized that Red Bull aims for the fastest car usable by both drivers, relying on set-up rather than development for individual needs.
- Despite difficulties in matching the car to Perez’s driving style, Red Bull leads in both championships entering the summer break.
Sergio Perez has found himself in a tough spot, unable to secure a podium finish in nine straight races and accumulating just 46 points, starkly contrasted to Max Verstappen’s 167 points. This led to a pivotal meeting following the Belgian Grand Prix regarding Perez’s future with Red Bull.
In a surprising turn, team principal Christian Horner announced that Perez would continue with Red Bull after the summer break. This decision elicited mixed reactions, especially with the influential Helmut Marko reportedly advocating for a change. Horner, however, emphasized that supporting Perez remains a priority, asserting, “We all want him to turn it around, we all want to see him deliver.”
Technical director Pierre Wache shed light on Red Bull’s philosophy, stating that the goal is to have the fastest car that’s manageable for both drivers. He noted, “Even if both drivers have different needs or preferences, the requirements for the car are still very similar. … We will use the set-up of the car.” This indicates that instead of developing the car to suit Perez specifically, Red Bull will focus on set-up adjustments.
Wache also highlighted the challenges in replicating real-world conditions in simulations, making it tough to address issues precisely. He explained, “The interaction with the tires is very difficult to reproduce, even if we try our best. Improving these areas is an important part of our process.”
Despite Perez’s struggles, Red Bull remains in a strong position, leading both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships as they head into the summer break, holding a 42-point lead over McLaren in the Constructors’ standings.
Red Bull continues to back Sergio Perez, aiming to fine-tune setups to better his performance while maintaining their championship lead.
