Sergio Perez’s recent performance in Formula One has been nothing short of disastrous, putting his future with Red Bull Racing in serious doubt.
Perez, who was awarded a new contract earlier this year, has struggled immensely over the past six Grand Prix weekends. In this period, he has managed to collect only 14 points and a single point in the Sprint race in Austria. This disappointing run is starkly contrasted by Oscar Piastri’s impressive tally of 83 points, including 7 points for his P2 finish in the Sprint at the Red Bull Ring.
The tension within the Red Bull organization is palpable, with internal conflicts arising between Dr. Helmut Marko and team boss Christian Horner over driver lineup decisions. Helmut Marko, the 81-year-old Austrian, pushed for Liam Lawson to be given a chance this year, while Horner preferred to stick with Daniel Ricciardo, whom he considers a protégé. Yuki Tsunoda’s future also looked uncertain until a sudden announcement at the Japanese Grand Prix confirmed his stay with the Red Bull sister team for 2024.
Dr. Marko has been vocal about the importance of keeping Honda close to Red Bull, especially since Honda will be powering Aston Martin from 2026 onwards. When asked about the speculated disagreements within the team, Marko dismissed them, stating, “This is all just speculation. Just like the one about Perez. There is no ultimatum for Perez.”
Adding to the drama, Liam Lawson has a clause in his contract allowing him to talk to other F1 teams after the summer break. Red Bull is keen to avoid losing him, despite recent test results at Silverstone that were deemed underwhelming. Thomas Maher from Planet F1 reported, “My understanding is that Lawson’s filming day times slightly underwhelmed Red Bull – his quickest benchmark time being two-tenths off the time earmarked as Verstappen’s benchmark from the weekend.” Dr. Marko, however, affirmed, “We will not release him because he will get another chance with us.”
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez faces a daunting challenge. His contract contains a clause stating that if he falls more than 100 points behind his teammate Max Verstappen by the summer break, the team could drop him immediately. Currently, Perez trails Verstappen by 137 points. To keep his place, he would need miraculous wins and second-place finishes in upcoming races, while Verstappen would have to score no points at all.
The tension at Red Bull is a microcosm of the larger shakeups happening in the 2024 Formula One season. Backdoor conversations and negotiations are rampant, with at least two current drivers expected to leave the sport, making room for new talents like rookie Oliver Bearman, who has been confirmed by Haas F1, and of course, Liam Lawson, who Marko insists will be full-time in an RB car by 2025.
The stakes are high, and the pressure is mounting for Sergio Perez. With internal team strife and the ever-looming threat of being replaced, the next few races will be crucial in determining his future with Red Bull Racing.
