As Max Verstappen celebrates his fourth world title after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the situation is far less rosy for his teammate Sergio Pérez.
The Mexican driver, stuck in a string of disappointing performances, could see his future with Red Bull seriously called into question during a decisive meeting after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Here’s where the situation really stands.
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A disastrous season for Pérez
Sergio Pérez has failed to capitalize on Red Bull’s dominance this season. In Las Vegas, another poor weekend resulted in a modest 10th-place finish after climbing up from 16th on the grid. While he gained six positions during the race, this result remains far from sufficient for a team aiming for the top. Meanwhile, Verstappen, staying true to his status as the team leader, finished fifth despite driving a car that underperformed on the challenging Las Vegas track. This stark contrast in performance between the two drivers puts even more pressure on Pérez. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s iconic advisor, did not shy away from blaming the Mexican as one of the reasons for the team finishing third in the Constructors’ Championship, behind Ferrari and McLaren.
What a move from Checo 🤩
Total commitment from Perez as he passes Lawson and Magnussen in one go 💪#F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/tfYf7QrDDs
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 24, 2024
Alternatives to Checo are pushing hard
Pérez’s future is even more uncertain as two young talents are knocking on the door of the main team. Yuki Tsunoda, solid with VCARB, and Liam Lawson, impressive in his substitute appearances this season, are ready to seize their chance. Both drivers provide a credible alternative for 2025, and their consistent progress adds to Pérez’s pressure. Even in FIA F2, there are talents who deserve a shot at a Formula 1 seat, such as Isack Hadjar. Helmut Marko has confirmed that a post-Abu Dhabi meeting will allow Red Bull shareholders to decide the driver line-ups for next year, not just for the main team but also for VCARB. In this context, Pérez must prove in the final races that he still belongs in such a competitive team.
Internal tensions brewing all year
Although Christian Horner has publicly supported Pérez, the Mexican appears increasingly isolated within the team. Horner highlighted that Pérez’s underwhelming results this season have been particularly frustrating, especially during weekends where rivals like McLaren were not performing at their best. Las Vegas was one such missed opportunity. The team principal acknowledged that starting too far back on the grid has become a recurring issue for Pérez. Helmut Marko, however, has been more blunt, openly criticizing Pérez’s lack of points compared to Verstappen. With a gap of more than 200 points between the two drivers in the standings, Marko suggested that Red Bull could have aimed higher in the championship if Pérez had performed better against Ferrari and Mercedes.
This article explores Sergio Pérez’s uncertain future at Red Bull Racing as his lackluster performances this season spark serious questions. With rising stars like Tsunoda and Lawson eager for a promotion, Pérez faces mounting pressure to deliver in the final races of the year. It also examines internal team tensions and the crucial shareholder meeting that could determine his fate.
Image : Red Bull Content pool
