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Sergio Perez Better Suited for the Midfield; F1 Pundit Pulls No Punches for Mexican’s Time at Red Bull

Published 03/29/2024, 8:53 AM EDT

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via Reuters

Sergio Checo Perez has been driving alongside Max Verstappen for 4 seasons now and it’s time to talk about him. The Mexican driver has always been within the top 10 drivers over the last decade, but in a Red Bull, he finished within the top 3 in both previous years. And now the question has started to pop up, is it his driving? Or just the RB20?

The RB20 is by far the best car the sport has seen, it’s an upgrade of the Rb19. The upgrade makes the car better to handle and quicker to drive. But this year, Perez has already been showing signs of lacking. During the Australian Grand Prix, the Mexican driver had a chance to shine, but he ended up coming in P5. This was disappointing as Max Verstappen had to retire from the race and Red Bull lost their victory. This has prompted certain questions in the community, one of them being- where does Perez deserve to be on the grid?

Does Sergio Perez deserve his seat?

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In a conversation about which drivers should be on the grid, the ‘Missed Apex Formula 1 Podcast’ named their 2025 dream grid. With that said, after going through many drivers, the question about Sergio Perez came up. Richard Ready said, “I’m keeping Perez in F1. I think his history in F1, knowing podiums from the midfield, yet, several race wins. I think he’s a decent driver; he’s gone into the horrible position of Red Bull the other drivers have found themselves in; Gasly and Albon.”

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“But I am happy to demote him. So my proposal is to put Perez in Haas,” he added. However, this opinion was not agreed with by everyone, and Chris Stevens said, “Albon and Gasly didn’t have one of the best Formula One cars ever designed and not make it into Q2 on several occasions, but I see your points, Perez is far more able to shine in the midfield, that he is out in the front, so I wouldn’t mind, I mean put him back in an Aston Martin.”

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However, Stevens’ ultimate answer was, “I think Perez is on my ‘doesn’t deserve to be on the grid based on the top 20 best drivers in the world.” The belief is that Sergio Perez needs to do more to prove himself. This year is the last year of his contract and despite being a good teammate to Max Verstappen, if he doesn’t perform well, he will get replaced. Then he will be back on the hunt for a new team.

Where would Sergio Perez go after Red Bull?

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There will be many options for Sergio Perez in case Red Bull does not extend the contract. Half the grid will be empty next year and everyone will want to look for a team. Checo does have many teams that might be interested in him. He did finish 2nd last year and 3rd a year before that.

via Reuters

Teams like Mercedes, Aston Martin, Alpine, Williams, RB, Sauber, and Haas will all need new drivers and a few of these teams, he already has worked with. While there are openings in Mercedes and Aston Martin, these teams would like to have a stronger contender in their seats, which leaves the Racing Bulls, Alpine, Williams, Stake, and Haas.

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With the uncertain environment around the F1 circuit, anything is possible, there is also a chance that he might not get a seat. But considering his performance over the last 2 years, it is unlikely that it would happen. That being said, where do you think Sergio Perez will make a move, in case Red Bull does not work out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Viren Mirpuri

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Viren Mirpuri is an F1 Writer at EssentiallySports. With a Degree in Mass Media and a Specialization in Journalism, Viren is known for his speedy race day coverage outside of discussing the engine technicalities. Whether he's dissecting the latest technical innovations or unraveling the drama on and off the track, he ensures that his readers stay engaged and informed.
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Edited by:

Shreya Singh