**”Pressure Mounts on Perez: Red Bull’s Patience Tested as Rivals Close In”**

Sergio Perez's challenges are causing him pain – but how much patience does Red Bull have left?

Crash.net's Lewis Larkam observed Sergio Perez's troubles firsthand at Spa.

Following his most impressive qualifying result since the Chinese Grand Prix in April, Sergio Perez had an ideal chance to alleviate some of the stress before Formula 1's summer break.

Lining up next to pole position holder Charles Leclerc at the front of the grid for the Belgian Grand Prix, and with his teammate Max Verstappen starting from 11th place due to a penalty for surpassing his power unit limit, Perez had a prime opportunity to deliver a crucial performance for Red Bull during this pivotal moment in his season.

Perez quickly fell behind Lewis Hamilton during the initial lap and had difficulty maintaining speed, ultimately ending up in eighth place, trailing his teammate, who made a strong comeback, by three positions. Due to Russell's disqualification, Perez moved up to seventh place, but Red Bull team boss Christian Horner indicated that they had hoped for a significantly better performance.

"We didn't expect him to finish eighth given where he started," Horner responded when Crash.net inquired if Red Bull was let down by Perez's performance in Belgium.

Although Horner was cautious with his language in trying to support Perez and mentioned feeling "hurt" by Perez's persistent difficulties, Red Bull's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko was more direct, stating that Perez "completely collapsed."

Red Bull is scheduled to have a meeting today where Perez’s future will be discussed. Horner emphasized that the meeting’s importance should not be overstated, noting that “it’s not only about Checo”.

When Crash.net asked about the timeframe Red Bull would allow Perez to improve his performance, Horner mostly avoided answering directly. He said, “I think he’s very aware that we need both cars performing well, as they did at the start of the year. That’s the level we need to return to.”

Red Bull has failed to clinch a win in their last four races. Recently, McLaren's impressive performance has significantly reduced Red Bull's previously strong lead in the constructors' championship to just 42 points as the summer break approaches. Meanwhile, Mercedes has managed to secure victory in three of the last four races.

Red Bull is currently feeling the heat from their competitors, especially now that they no longer have the advantage of having the fastest car on the track. Consequently, the reigning world champions might soon have to face a tough decision, one that Horner emphasizes "nobody wants to make".

Who might take Perez's place?

Speculation about a potential driver change at Red Bull during the current season has been growing lately.

According to reports, there's a performance clause in Perez’s contract, which was signed just last month, that supposedly allows Red Bull to substitute Perez if his championship points deficit to Verstappen exceeds 100 after the Spa race.

Perez has accumulated only 28 points over the past eight races, causing him to drop to seventh place in the drivers' championship standings. He now trails Verstappen by 146 points, putting him at risk due to the supposed clause.

A change like this is entirely possible, considering Red Bull’s past actions. In 2016, Verstappen took over Daniil Kvyat's spot after only four races, and in 2019, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly switched places during the summer break.

Should Red Bull decide to replace Perez, the likely candidates for the position would be either Daniel Ricciardo or Yuki Tsunoda, who currently race for Red Bull's sister team, or reserve driver Liam Lawson.

The recent F1 test at Imola featuring Ricciardo and Lawson has intensified rumors about Perez's future.

This week, the duo will drive a 2024 RB vehicle, although Horner swiftly dismissed the idea that the test is a competition to decide Perez's successor.

"It's a day dedicated to filming, so filming activities will be taking place. The focus is entirely on creating content," Horner clarified. "They'll be using the current car model, as they're allowed to cover up to 200 km with it. Both of them will have ample opportunities for filming."

Ricciardo has bounced back from a disappointing beginning to the season, aiming to enhance his prospects of making a triumphant comeback to the main Red Bull team. He gained a point in Belgium due to Russell's disqualification.

Horner believed that Ricciardo had performed reasonably well in the last few races. He mentioned, "I haven't reviewed the race itself, but I saw that he finished in 11th place [which became 10th after Russell's disqualification]. Starting on the Soft tires, he's clearly having a solid race," he commented.

Horner consistently emphasizes that Red Bull's main focus is to back Perez, but it is uncertain how long the team's tolerance will hold out as they face significant pressure from their competitors.

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