Red Bull Stands by Sergio Perez as Formula 1 Team-Mate to Max Verstappen
Helmut Marko, advisor to Red Bull Racing, has reiterated the team’s commitment to Sergio Perez as the ideal partner for Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 driver lineup. Despite Perez’s recent slump in performance, which has allowed McLaren to close the gap in the constructors’ standings to 42 points, Red Bull has chosen to stand by the Mexican driver.
Speculation had emerged that Red Bull might consider replacing Perez with one of its other drivers, such as Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, or Liam Lawson. However, after evaluating their options, team boss Christian Horner and Marko have decided to retain Perez, who recently signed a two-year contract extension.
In his column on Speedweek, Marko emphasized that Perez remains “still our best solution” given the available alternatives. The 34-year-old Mexican driver has shown flashes of his old self, particularly in the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying, and Marko believes that Perez just needs to find more consistency to excel.
Marko dismissed rumors that Formula 1 owner Liberty Media had a hand in Red Bull’s driver selection, stating that their choice was based solely on the team’s internal decision-making process. Perez’s ability to perform well on certain tracks, as seen in last year’s season, has also influenced Red Bull’s decision to retain him.
Red Bull is also weighing its options for reserve driver Liam Lawson, who is set to become a free agent in 2025. Marko ruled out the possibility of loaning Lawson to rival teams, stating that the team will announce its plans for him in September. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Formula 2 driver Isack Hadjar has shown promising results, taking his fourth victory in the top formula racing class at Spa, and is likely to take on a role within the team in the future.
With the Formula 1 season resuming after the summer break, Red Bull is banking on stability and consistency from its current lineup, with Perez and Verstappen leading the charge for the Austrian team. As the battle for the constructors’ championship heats up, Red Bull will be hoping that its faith in Perez pays off and yields the desired results.
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