Brundle’s Insight: The Commercial Strategy Behind Red Bull Retaining Perez Amid Performance Struggles

Martin Brundle shares his speculation on why Red Bull continues to support Sergio Perez at the moment.

Martin Brundle is of the opinion that Red Bull has not opted to find a replacement for Sergio Perez because of the valuable commercial and sponsorship advantages he contributes to the Formula 1 squad.

Despite receiving a new two-year contract recently, scrutiny is intensifying on the struggling Perez, who hasn't managed to finish above seventh place in his last five races, adding only 11 points to Red Bull's total of 105 points during this period.

Perez's significant decline in performance has resulted in his fall to the sixth spot in the drivers' standings, trailing his teammate Max Verstappen by 137 points. This has fueled rumors that Red Bull might consider swapping him out before the season ends.

Brundle described Perez's ongoing difficulties as "difficult" to observe and proposed a hypothesis on why he believes Red Bull continues to support the 34-year-old from Mexico.

"Brundle mentioned on the Sky Sports F1 podcast that it's financially appealing to them, and he serves as a strong counterpart to Max."

"He's usually quick enough to perform well and gather pertinent details – not so quick as to trouble Max, specifically – and this strategy has been effective for them, leading to victories in both championships.

"Suddenly, they find themselves facing competitors, meaning they can't easily secure the constructors' championship unless Sergio is in prime condition."

Hence, the foundational principles have shifted in this context, prompting speculation about their ability to manage under these new conditions. However, considering the backing, Red Bull's market presence in both North and South America, and the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix, would it truly be desirable to not have Sergio Perez competing? That's where the equilibrium lies.

"If he had been labeled as 'Driver B' and factors like his nationality or commercial appeal weren't considered, they would have swapped him out – to be frank."

Should Perez face dismissal, Brundle believes that Red Bull's reserve driver, Liam Lawson, would likely be the top candidate to replace him.

"It's a challenging situation. The problem for novice drivers is that Verstappen outpaces them significantly, as he has the exceptional ability to control a somewhat unruly vehicle during fast turns," he elaborated.

One might argue that Ricciardo is mentally prepared to avoid another defeat by Max, yet it appears Sergio has experienced the same, and should also be in a good mental state. There's a feeling that Daniel is feeling the heat to keep his position, not to mention the possibility of advancing to the premier team.

"Their Formula 2 male drivers might not be prepared for the challenge. In my opinion, if they're considering anyone for the role, Lawson would be my choice. It would be interesting to see how he performs, and they should focus on keeping him mentally engaged and determined. He appears to be quite resilient."

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