With a dominant Red Bull comes the least secured seat in F1. Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen’s biggest fan, has hinted at a potential shake-up in the team’s driver lineup, casting doubt on Sergio Perez‘s future with the team. As the season unfolded, the possibility of a driver change was unimaginable but is now being cautiously entertained. While the Mexican driver finds himself facing a series of setbacks, the pressure intensifies as his performance is evaluated against that of his exceptional teammate, Max Verstappen.

At the start of the 2023 season, Sergio Perez exhibited strong form, nearly matching Verstappen’s points tally after four race weekends. However, a turning point emerged in Miami when Perez, despite starting from pole position, conceded victory to Verstappen, who had started from a lowly 9th place. This marked the beginning of a trend reversal for Perez. Subsequent crashes in qualifying sessions in Monaco, as well as missing qualifying in Spain and Canada, have further impacted his championship campaign. Currently trailing Verstappen by 69 points in the World Championship standings, Perez finds himself in a precarious position.

In Helmut Marko’s recent interview with ORF, he has added fuel to the speculation surrounding Perez’s future at Red Bull. Marko alluded to an upcoming tire test organized by Pirelli after the British Grand Prix, where Daniel Ricciardo, the team’s reserve driver, will have the opportunity to drive for three days. Marko stated, “After Silverstone, we will have [Daniel] Ricciardo in the car for three days at the tire test organized by Pirelli. And then you can evaluate: where is Ricciardo really?” [translated via Google]

This test serves as a crucial evaluation of Daniel Ricciardo’s potential, potentially setting the stage for a future driver change. While Perez has a contract until 2024, things change in F1 quickly & ever so quicker at Red Bull. So the Mexican may want to improve his performance quickly or see the exit door opening sooner than expected.

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Marko’s comment, “We only have one Max,” suggests a possible farewell to Perez, indicating that his tenure with the team may be shorter than initially planned. As Perez’s intended two or three-year goal approaches its completion, Marko emphasizes the need to keep options open for a potential successor.

It’s not just Sergio Perez who Struggled at Red Bull

Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon were handed the prestigious opportunity to partner with Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, but both faced immense difficulties in matching the Dutchman’s exceptional performances. Gasly, who joined the team in 2019, struggled to adapt to the car and failed to deliver the expected results. Despite his undeniable talent, Gasly’s performances fell short, prompting the team to make a mid-season driver change.

Similarly, Alex Albon faced a challenging journey during his time at Red Bull. Despite displaying flashes of promise, Albon found it challenging to consistently challenge Verstappen and failed to secure the necessary results. The team’s decision to replace him with Sergio Perez for the 2021 season demonstrated the importance Red Bull places on finding a suitable teammate capable of providing a formidable challenge to Verstappen.

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Can Perez overcome the challenges and solidify his position within the team, or will history repeat itself, leaving Red Bull Racing searching for yet another driver who can rise to the occasion alongside their exceptional star? Only time will tell.

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