Guenther Steiner has addressed the speculation surrounding Red Bull’s potential decision to reverse their 2024 upgrades to aid Sergio Perez, emphatically stating that the problem lies not with the car but with the driver.
Perez’s future in Formula 1 became a hot topic as he endured a streak of nine races without a podium finish leading up to the summer break. Falling behind teammate Max Verstappen on the track, Perez slipped to seventh place in the standings, becoming the only driver among the top four teams without a race victory. His lackluster performance not only dented his standing in the Drivers’ Championship but also affected Red Bull’s position in the Constructors’ Championship. Since the Miami Grand Prix, which marked the start of his nine-race podium drought, Perez has amassed just 28 points, while Red Bull accrued 169 points compared to McLaren’s 242, narrowing their lead to 42 points.
Pundits predict that McLaren could soon overtake Red Bull unless Perez returns from the summer break with a renewed form. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner expressed his support for Perez, stating, ‘The team has been and is right behind him. Everybody wants to see him succeed because it hurts seeing him in the situation that he is.’ This speculation led to talks of Red Bull potentially reverting to earlier specifications of the RB20 to aid Perez, but Steiner believes the issue is more personal.
In an interview with the Racingnews365 podcast, Steiner asserted, ‘Today, very few things change substantially about the car. They are the same. And if ever there is only one instance of an update, something like that is clearly communicated. It is not something you can withhold. Those times are over.’ He further elaborated, ‘It’s really the driver. And I think it’s something mental. There is some stress involved, and then when you consider how little it takes to be three to four tenths slower, it is understandable that you lack confidence for a while. You feel you are always under pressure, everyone is watching you, and everyone is commenting.’
Steiner also highlighted the mental toll of constant criticism and comparison to teammates, noting, ‘I always think to myself on Mondays how much it must take possession of you when you read and hear about everything again after a bad weekend or when you are beaten by your teammate again. It grabs you unless you are really very strong in your mind.’ He emphasized that this mental resilience is what sets apart good drivers from great ones, particularly World Champions who remain unaffected by such pressure.
Despite Perez’s struggles, Red Bull opted not to replace him with Daniel Ricciardo or Liam Lawson during the summer break. Horner confirmed Perez’s position, announcing, ‘Perez remains a Red Bull driver.’ Steiner expressed skepticism about Perez’s ability to rebound, admitting, ‘I don’t think so no, but I’ve been proven wrong before. We also all thought he wouldn’t survive the summer break, but he’s still there. I also wish him all the best. I don’t begrudge him anything bad, because I have a lot of respect for him as a driver.’
The ongoing scrutiny of Sergio Perez’s performance and the unwavering support from his team illustrate the high stakes and intense pressure within Formula 1. Whether Perez can overcome these challenges remains to be seen, but his journey continues to be a focal point in the racing world.
