Sergio Perez appears to be on the verge of parting ways with Red Bull Racing, with speculation about his future reaching a fever pitch after a disappointing 2024 season.
While Max Verstappen dominated by securing his fourth world title, the Mexican driver’s underwhelming performances have left the team vulnerable against Ferrari and McLaren. Here’s what this means for Red Bull and its future.
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A terrible race in Qatar for Sergio Perez
The 2024 Qatar Grand Prix highlighted just how much Perez is struggling. From an early elimination in the sprint qualifying session to a crash into the gravel during the main race following a safety car error, nothing went his way. According to Christian Horner, that incident caused the clutch to overheat, ending Perez’s day prematurely. But beyond this disastrous weekend, his entire season has been under scrutiny: repeated mistakes and an inability to keep up with Verstappen’s pace have been glaring issues. Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have acknowledged Perez’s importance in the team’s successes in recent years – particularly his crucial wins in 2021 and 2022. However, for a team accustomed to excellence, these contributions may no longer be enough.
A successor to the Red Bull seat already in the wings
Red Bull isn’t hiding the fact that a replacement is under consideration. Rumors suggest that Liam Lawson is the frontrunner to take over from Sergio Perez, with Yuki Tsunoda also in the mix, especially with a key test scheduled in Abu Dhabi right after the season’s end. Helmut Marko confirmed that a final decision will be made during a crucial meeting with shareholders. Red Bull’s philosophy, which prioritizes drivers from its junior program, could play a major role here. However, untangling Perez’s contract, originally signed through 2025 but reportedly containing exit clauses, will also be a factor. An early departure wouldn’t be a first for Red Bull, a team known for mid-season driver changes if deemed necessary.
A tough F1 exit for Perez
For Checo Perez, the current environment is far from comfortable. Constant speculation, media pressure, and lackluster performances make this season’s conclusion especially challenging. Horner has emphasized Perez’s contributions to Red Bull’s constructors’ titles in 2022 and 2023 but has also hinted that both the team and the driver are aware of their current standing. If Red Bull Racing parts ways after the Abu Dhabi GP, Sergio Perez will leave Formula 1 with an honorable record, albeit one marred by two difficult final seasons. For Red Bull, this would open the door to a fresh chapter with a promising young talent like Liam Lawson, whose name continues to dominate replacement rumors. The biggest mystery in Formula 1 in recent years would finally be solved after several races of questioning.
This article explores the tense situation between Sergio Perez and Red Bull as the 2024 season concludes. Following a year plagued by errors and underperformance, the team appears ready to move forward. The post-Abu Dhabi meeting will be pivotal in determining Perez’s future and potentially ushering in a new talent for the most dominant F1 team today.
Images: Red Bull Content pool
