Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have been colleagues at Red Bull for four seasons, and their partnership is quite the financial balancing act.
Ralf Schumacher recently pointed out that the sponsorship money Perez brings in is crucial for Red Bull, especially considering Verstappen’s hefty salary of $70 million. Perez, who joined Red Bull in 2021, has been instrumental in securing two Constructors’ titles, with the team now targeting a third.
Despite no podium finishes since the Chinese Grand Prix, there are talks of a contract extension for Perez. Schumacher emphasizes that Perez’s financial contributions help Red Bull manage their budget while paying Verstappen’s substantial salary. Speaking to Formel1.de, Schumacher noted, ‘You shouldn’t forget, as long as Max Verstappen stays, that’s what I’ve heard at least once, the budget limits are relatively tight at Red Bull, and Perez brings money.’
Perez’s sponsorship portfolio includes big names like Disney, Telcel, Mobil, Claro, Nescafé, and KitKat. However, his recent performances have been underwhelming, with an eighth place at Imola and a crash in Monaco. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stressed the importance of Perez regaining his form amidst growing competition from McLaren and Ferrari. Lando Norris recently claimed his first F1 victory in Miami, and Charles Leclerc won in Monaco, cutting down Red Bull’s lead in the Constructors’ Championship to 24 points.
Horner commented after the Monaco GP, ‘Well, look, I mean, this weekend’s been pretty brutal for him. We need to make sure that we’ve got both cars up there scoring points, because we cannot dismiss the threat of Ferrari and McLaren in both championships.’
Perez has now slipped to fifth place in the Drivers’ Championship standings, adding to the urgency for him to step up his game.
The interplay between Perez’s sponsorship dollars and Verstappen’s salary is a strategic element for Red Bull, making every race and every performance crucial as the team navigates the pressures of tight budgets and fierce competition.
