Perez’s Performance Under Scrutiny as Red Bull Considers Its Options
In the world of Formula 1 news, there’s growing concern at Red Bull Racing over Sergio Perez’s recent performance, with the Mexican driver struggling to deliver points in the constructors’ championship. Perez’s form has been under the microscope in recent weeks, and now, his contract is at risk of being terminated if he fails to up his game.
With McLaren and Mercedes hot on their heels, Red Bull knows that its healthy lead in the constructors’ championship could evaporate if Perez doesn’t start scoring points consistently. Since the Miami Grand Prix, Perez has only managed 15 points, while teammate Max Verstappen has contributed a massive 119 points in the same period.
“He knows it’s unsustainable to not be scoring points. We have to be scoring points in that car, and he knows that.” – Christian Horner, Red Bull team boss
Despite having a contract in place for next year, sources suggest that Red Bull has the right to terminate Perez’s contract if he falls more than 100 points behind Verstappen at key points in the championship – specifically, the summer break and the end of the season. Currently, Perez trails Verstappen by 137 points, giving him just two races to close the gap and avoid exposing himself to the risk of being dropped.
If Red Bull decides to part ways with Perez, there’s no obvious replacement waiting in the wings. Daniel Ricciardo’s inconsistent season at AlphaTauri raises question marks, while Yuki Tsunoda isn’t seen as a suitable candidate for promotion. One potential option is reserve driver Liam Lawson, who impressed during his stand-in appearances for Ricciardo last year.
Lawson is scheduled to conduct a filming day in a 2024 Red Bull car at Silverstone this week, which will provide an opportunity for Red Bull management to assess his performance in a car that Perez is struggling with. Horner downplayed the significance of Lawson’s run, citing it as a long-planned aero test, but it’s clear that the team will be keeping a close eye on the young driver’s progress.
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