For many F1 fans, now and in the future, the 2023 season will become a mystery-thriller when they think about the curious case of Sergio Perez. When the season began, the Mexican Minister of Defense carved himself out as an elite driver. What’s more? Many touted him to be the only one on the grid who could fight Max Verstappen pound-for-pound. But all that excitement fizzled out pretty quickly after the first four or five races. Then, how did Perez go from a championship contender to a dismal performer in just the span of a single season?

Many theories are doing the circles. Is it just a simple skill issue? Then how was he matching and sometimes even outperforming the Dutch lion at the beginning of the season? Many believe this is down to Red Bull blatantly sabotaging the Mexican’s hopes and dreams for their favorite son, Verstappen. And the team has been called out, too, for this exact reason.

Sergio Perez comes clean about Verstappen’s deficit

When you compare Verstappen and Perez’s performances over a Grand Prix weekend, the delta is almost startling, given that the two have the exact same car. Red Bull may not be out-and-out snubbing Perez to favor Verstappen, but the 33-year-old adamantly believes that he’s been dealt a bad hand by the Milton-Keynes-based team in one crucial aspect this season.

While speaking to Sky Sports F1, Perez revealed, “The last few races I’ve been like a step or two behind and always thinking consciously how I have to drive the car. Sometimes with how the car has been developed, it doesn’t really suit me as much, so I have to work harder for it.”

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To make matters worse, in light of this confession, a paddock insider has highlighted a damning reality for the Mexican.

Perez’s Red Bull days are numbered

In the media, the team has staunchly held that Perez will be driving for them next year. However, we know that nothing is as it is presented to us in this brutal sport. And according to the ex-F1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, the fate of Sergio Perez’s future at the team has already been made.

Schumacher wrote, “I think his days at Red Bull are numbered. Helmut Marko is not exactly known for his warm-hearted way of dealing with Perez. I don’t think Perez as a guy can deal with that very well, which is how I explain these serious mishaps,” in his column for Sky Germany.

He continued, “Perez seemed very bad-tempered, disappointed and also absent throughout the weekend [at the Dutch Grand Prix]. I think there were already agreements regarding a separation after the end of the season.”

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If this is true, who is going to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull in 2024?