Belgian GP Curtain Call: Perez, Ricciardo, and Sargeant Face Potential Last F1 Race

Three racers could be participating in their final Formula 1 event at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez is feeling a lot of stress as he approaches this weekend's race at Spa-Francorchamps.

The Mexican's recent poor performance has led to a planned discussion between Christian Horner and Helmut Marko during the summer break.

Since the Miami Grand Prix in early June, Perez has not placed above seventh.

His decline in performance has matched McLaren's rise, cutting Red Bull's advantage in the standings to only 51 points as they approach the last round before the break.

Although the drivers' championship holds the most prestige, with Verstappen still being the strong favorite to clinch the title this year, the financial rewards for the team and their employees are tied to the constructors' championship.

Perez's performance is proving detrimental, as the ex-Force India driver remains the sole competitor among the top eight who has secured a victory this year.

The crash he experienced during the first quarter in Hungary might have sealed his fate regarding his prospects of remaining.

The issue facing Red Bull is the lack of a clear substitute.

Yuki Tsunoda has shown the strongest performance in the last year and a half, yet Red Bull appears to lack interest in him.

Daniel Ricciardo boasts significant experience and shares a strong rapport with Verstappen.

He has a history of winning races and would represent a final opportunity to drive a top-tier car.

Liam Lawson is still considered an outsider, and as Tsunoda mentioned, selecting him would be "strange" due to his limited experience in Formula 1.

If Perez is substituted, this might be his last race in Formula 1.

The impact of his time with Red Bull on his reputation is still uncertain. It's unclear if teams such as Sauber or Williams still hold him in high regard, considering that Perez was generally seen as the top midfield driver in Formula 1 in 2020.

Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo, another driver associated with Red Bull, might be leaving after the summer break.

Ricciardo has faced significant expectations to perform well for RB since the start of the season, with early rumors from Miami indicating he might be substituted.

The Australian has demonstrated moments of exceptional skill while with RB, but his main issue has been a lack of consistency.

Should Perez be substituted at Red Bull, it's highly probable that Ricciardo will continue to compete for the remainder of the season.

Should Perez stay in his position and Red Bull decides to offer Lawson an opportunity, it might mean an early conclusion for Ricciardo's career in Formula 1.

Logan Sargeant's prospects in Formula 1 remain uncertain.

Giving credit to the American, he has shown significant progress in recent rounds, especially in single-lap performance.

Nonetheless, the timing might not favor Sargent, as Williams is already in discussions with Carlos Sainz and Valtteri Bottas for the upcoming year.

The short-term prospects for Sargeant remain uncertain, with speculation that Andrea Kimi Antonelli might debut in the latter half of the season, possibly at his home race in Monza, before a potential full-time drive with Mercedes in 2025.

Ex-Formula 1 racer Marcus Ericsson has stated that there is a communication breakdown between Sargeant and team leader James Vowles.

In an appearance on the Viaplay F1 podcast, Ericsson mentioned that some of his American acquaintances familiar with Sargeant informed him that Sargeant isn't enjoying his time with that team.

He believes the situation is very challenging, and it seems he and Vowles no longer communicate. They hardly even acknowledge each other anymore. Their relationship has completely broken down.

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Website Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to reproduce text, photos, or illustrations in whole or in part in any manner.