Sergio Perez and his 2023 F1 escapades might well be described as a thrill ride at a theme park; with peaks of jubilation followed by sudden drops of despair. After rocketing off the starting line, bagging victories in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, Perez seems to have lost some of that nitrous boost. Even Helmut Marko couldn’t overlook Checo’s challenges, especially in qualifying. Notably, the Qatar Grand Prix felt like a desert mirage where Perez, instead of claiming the oasis, started from a dry 13th position.

Perez just has not been turning up since his Miami GP pole position. As if he is just not able to extract pace out of his care & this has led Marko to quote, “Checo has to deliver now!” Quite the contrast to his teammate, Max Verstappen, who’s been cruising on the F1 highway as he owns it. Recent insights from the Unlapped podcast drop a tantalizing hint: Is Perez feeling the heat?

The Unlapped Podcast recently mused, “The team really needs him, you know, he’s letting the team down at this point.” Ouch! But they also raised a poignant point, “Working with a psychologist now, clearly he’s in a position where he knows the situation… if the next two races if he can’t sort it out in Austin and Mexico… is he ever going to do it?“

With Austin and Mexico City races around the bend, two places where Perez could arguably be dubbed the ‘King of Cool’, the pressure’s on. If there ever was a time for Checo to shift gears and channel his early-2023 mojo, it’s now. Will he rise to the occasion, silencing naysayers? Or is it time for Red Bull to ponder whether Perez’s seat might be up for grabs? As they say in F1, it ain’t over till the checkered flag waves. On your marks, Sergio!

Before you go, there’s a hot rumor floating around: Daniel Ricciardo might just be zipping back to Red Bull to fill the racing shoes of Sergio Perez in 2024. Gasp!

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A Daniel Ricciardo return is possible if Sergio Perez… leaves

While Perez’s contract is inked till 2024, the paddock whispers have gotten louder suggesting that he and Red Bull could go their separate ways sooner than we thought. Although Perez retiring at the Mexican Grand Prix was deemed as ‘absolutely not happening’ by insiders, a report hints at the possibility of him choosing the exit door. The big question remains: can Perez hold onto his P2 spot in the Drivers’ Championship and consequentially the seat?

Now, here comes Danny Ric, the Aussie we all know and love. After a rollercoaster journey through F1 with wins at Red Bull, a stint at Renault, and a challenging time with McLaren, he’s now back at Red Bull, albeit in a reserve capacity. Despite a slight setback after a hand injury, he’s eager to return to the track at the United States GP, replacing Liam Lawson.

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Speaking of Lawson, the Kiwi showcased his potential with a P9 finish in Singapore. Although he’s been eyeing a seat at Williams, he’s likely to stay in the Red Bull orbit. So, if Perez decides to hang up his helmet (or at least part from Red Bull), this could reshuffle the cards, promoting Ricciardo to Red Bull and leaving Lawson cozying up with Yuki Tsunoda at AlphaTauri.

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Oh, the drama! Stay tuned, fans, because this season is more gripping than a high-speed turn at Monaco!