Perez Details Red Bull’s Strategic Reversal After Misguided Upgrades Threaten Championship Lead

Sergio Perez discusses Red Bull's 'regressions' following a misguided direction

Sergio Perez remains optimistic about regaining his performance level as Red Bull switches back to a previous version, as reported by Connor McDonagh from Zandvoort.

Sergio Perez disclosed that several upgrades to the Red Bull F1 car led him astray, contributing to the challenges he's facing in his 2024 season.

Perez has only amassed 28 points over the past eight races, putting Red Bull's lead in the constructors’ championship at risk.

Red Bull leads McLaren by a margin of 42 points in the Formula 1 constructors' standings, with 10 races remaining.

His lackluster performance fueled rumors that Red Bull might be contemplating a driver switch for the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.

During a conversation with journalists from Crash.net and others at Zandvoort on Thursday, Perez shared insights into Red Bull's discoveries over the F1 summer hiatus.

He shared, "I essentially took a break and disconnected," adding, "However, even during the summer vacation, there's a part of you that remains in touch with the engineers and keeps tabs on developments. In retrospect, it turned out to be a highly beneficial break for Red Bull. We discovered quite a bit."

"I believe we have a clear understanding of our current situation with the vehicle. It appears that one or two enhancements may have led us astray."

"Reflecting on the current situation, it's clear to us how the car operates, which is significantly positive, especially considering the confusion surrounding its performance in the recent races. The real challenge lies in whether we can address the issues and return to our previous form. However, in this aspect, there's a sense of optimism."

Perez is anticipated to operate a variant model of the F1 vehicle since Red Bull plans to switch back to previous components to assist the Mexican in regaining his performance.

When asked if they were considered 'downgrades', Perez responded, "It's evident where we stand with the car now. I believe it's a matter I'd prefer to discuss internally, focusing on the specifics, and we will address it accordingly."

"Clearly, the actions we're planning to take with the vehicles will become apparent, though these strategies will remain internal to our team. However, we acknowledge that we've made a decision that led us in the wrong direction."

He further stated, "Particularly given the challenges we've faced, I've found it tough in that area. I can't delve deeply into specifics, but many of my difficulties have stemmed from there. It's challenging to convey the extent of it, but it's not as if I was a significantly better driver at the start of the year compared to now, you know?

"Undoubtedly, there were aspects that didn't unfold as I had hoped, which impacted me negatively, and it seems we weren't fully optimizing the car's potential in those situations."

The gathering after the summer hiatus

Numerous sources indicated that the discussion post the Belgian Grand Prix centered on Perez's career prospects – specifically if he would be substituted.

Yet, Perez insists that his conversation was not about his future, but instead focused on performance.

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