While Lewis Hamilton enjoyed a triumphant day at the British Grand Prix, the folks at Red Bull had a weekend they’d rather forget. Despite the team’s woes, Max Verstappen managed to extend his lead in the championship, thanks in part to some strategic blunders by Ferrari and McLaren.
Sergio Perez’s weekend was a disaster from the start. A spin in Q1 put him at the back of the grid. To make matters worse, Red Bull decided to give him a new power unit, meaning he had to start from the pitlane with a tweaked car setup. Despite some bold strategy calls, like pitting early for wet weather tires, the rain didn’t cooperate, and Perez ended up with zero points for the race.
Meanwhile, McLaren initially looked set for a stellar 1-2 finish at their home Grand Prix. But bad luck and poor strategy calls saw Lando Norris fade towards the end. This allowed Norris and Oscar Piastri to close the gap in the constructors’ championship. Red Bull, however, technically extended their lead over Ferrari, even though the competition is getting fiercer with each passing race.
The media quickly pounced on Red Bull’s team boss, questioning the sustainability of Perez’s position. Sky F1’s Karen Chandhok asked bluntly about potential replacements like Liam Lawson and even Daniel Ricciardo. Rumors are swirling that Perez might only have two races left to save his Red Bull career before the summer break.
Christian Horner, the Red Bull boss, did little to squash these rumors. He acknowledged that “it’s been a horrible weekend” for Perez and that “it’s unsustainable to not be scoring points.” He also mentioned that the team’s test and reserve driver, Liam Lawson, has planned tests, which many see as auditions for future roles.
Horner also compared Perez’s struggle to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who faced similar issues during the race. Both drivers lost significant time due to strategic calls that didn’t pan out. However, Horner’s focus remained on Perez, noting that the Mexican driver knows the pressures and targets he must meet.
All this comes in the backdrop of potential changes in other teams as well. Carlos Sainz is yet to decide on his future team, having received offers from several contenders. This indecision is seen by many as a sign that he might be eyeing a spot at Red Bull, should Perez be ousted.
To add to the drama, Daniel Ricciardo, who was released by McLaren, is also in a peculiar position. Despite performing well, he hasn’t been awarded a contract for next season and might be looking at other teams as his next landing spot.
Perez has been with Red Bull for four seasons, but it seems like his time is running out. The pressure is mounting, and as Horner said, “the bell is tolling to announce the end [of his career with Red Bull].” With the summer break looming, Perez has limited time to prove he deserves his seat.
As the F1 circus moves forward, all eyes will be on Perez. Can he turn things around, or will Red Bull make the switch to a new driver? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the next two races will be crucial for Perez’s career.
In a sport where every second counts and every decision is scrutinized, Red Bull’s struggles continue to be a major talking point. With Verstappen holding strong and Hamilton shining, the focus now shifts to Perez and his fight to keep his seat. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds.
