Just over a month ago, Red Bull and Sergio Perez agreed to a new contract. At the time, this decision was met with criticism – based on Perez’s record in the Austrian team. Despite the public scepticism, Christian Horner insisted that offering the 34-year-old an extension was the correct choice. However, the reigning Champions are already re-evaluating their choice.
At last week’s Austrian GP, Max Verstappen lost over 50 seconds from his puncture after making contact with Lando Norris. Despite this, he finished 17 seconds ahead of Perez.
This quite succinctly summarises the deficit between the two Red Bull drivers. Whilst Verstappen regularly fights for wins, Perez has only scored 11 points in the last four weekends.
For now, Red Bull have kept their advantage in the Championship. Operational mistakes from McLaren and Ferrari’s decline since Monaco have allowed the Milton Keynes squad to keep P1 in the standings.
However, with McLaren and Mercedes in the ascendancy, it would be unwise to assume the reigning Champions are in a safe position. Perez’s points in recent events are comparable to those of Tsunoda and Ricciardo in VCARB — two drivers who actually have a better average grid position than the Mexican.
Because of this, in a dramatic turn of events, the 34-year-old is under pressure to keep his seat.
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with his team in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 04, 2024 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202407040563 // Usage for editorial use only //
Sergio Perez under pressure, Red Bull need improvement
Although Perez recently signed a contract extension with Red Bull, this agreement contains clauses. Among them are undoubtedly performance clauses, which stipulate that Perez must drive at a certain level and reach set targets.
Since McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes have joined the battle at the front, Perez has regularly been last of the front-runners. He is currently 5th in the standings, but his trajectory suggests he will fall to 8th by the summer break.
In this scenario, the Mexican’s position at Red Bull will become untenable. Tsunoda and Ricciardo are two options that can be promoted without any contractual difficulty. Meanwhile, someone like Carlos Sainz might see the current situation as an opportunity.
To be clear, Sergio Perez’s departure is not set in stone. The Austrian team, as we have seen over the last three years, prefer stability and continuity over change. However, there is undoubtedly mounting pressure. The 34-year-old’s contract will not be enough to protect him if his current form persists.
Helmut Marko is unlikely to have been convinced by Perez’s results in 2024. Meanwhile, Christian Horner (whose influence at Red Bull has risen since the team’s internal power struggle) is finding it harder to justify keeping the 6-time race winner.
Verstappen’s recent results, even as the MCL38 establishes itself as the best overall package, have been hugely impressive. However, even the Dutchman cannot be expected to secure the lion’s share of points at Red Bull forever.
