All eyes were on Sergio Perez during the Mexico GP. Not because it was the home hero’s moment to shine, but because he had to. A season of disappointing performances was now reaching its boiling point. But Perez crossed the line P16, without no points. Now, Red Bull sits third in the constructors’ championship. There’s only one person to blame. Or a few?
Christian Horner has kept Perez on for longer than he deserved. The infamous Red Bull treatment has evaded Checo and now the team suffers for it.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat happened to the team whose core principles demanded perfection? The Mexican has failed to score in five races this season. Verstappen has carried 362 of the team’s 512 points. The team can no longer afford to have one man dragging it down when rivals like McLaren and Ferrari overtake them without a fight.
Although delayed, it looks like the time is finally here.
The drop to P3 seems to have been the wake-up call for Christian Horner. Speaking to F1, he stated,
“That scrutiny is always going to be there and there comes a point in time that difficult decisions have to be made. We’re now third in the constructors’ championship.”
The reality is that Red Bull needs to respond to Ferrari’s surge fast. Only then can they attempt to retake P1 in the championship from McLaren, who are 54 points ahead of them. It’s also important to remember the clock’s ticking with only four races to go.
Embed from Getty ImagesF1 pundit and ex-driver Ralf Schumacher had explained it plainly: “It’s no longer making sense, for either side. Not for Perez, either. The poor guy is under so much pressure; he’s not going home with a smile on his face”
Why did Red Bull drag Sergio Perez along for so long?
The answer is as simple as the very thing F1 reveres- money.
One of the biggest storylines of the summer break was Daniel Ricciardo emerging as the top contender to replace Perez. With the decision ever so close to coming to fruition, the news released instead was Perez’s two-year contract extension that would see him at Red Bull till 2026.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiberty Media reportedly intervened in this decision asking the team to reconsider the economic repercussions should Perez leave. The Mexican audience and Perez’s sponsorships, hence, reigned supreme, forcing Red Bull to abandon the plan to swap him out with Ricciardo.
Red Bull’s best options
The now-axed Daniel Ricciardo could make a return for the seat. His farewell from the sport after the Hungarian GP resulted in a barrage of criticism towards Red Bull for dismissing their driver the way they did. Could there be a larger plan at hand? It would make sense for the team to have a more mature driver like Ricciardo, who shares great chemistry with Verstappen. But perhaps the team also want to move forward.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiam Lawson would then be the candidate on the top of their list. Having replaced Ricciardo at V-CARB for the remainder of the season, promoting Lawson could result in a good domino effect for the team.
Franco Colapinto has emerged as the hottest new driver on the market, with driving skills and a personality that fits right in line with Red Bull culture. Should Lawson leave for Red Bull, Colapinto could earn a well-deserved F1 seat with the junior team for the 2025 season.
