Sergio Perez Faces Uncertain Future at Red Bull Amid Poor Form and Contract Clause Speculation

Red Bull acknowledges that Sergio Perez's performance level is 'unmaintainable' amid circulating rumors about a potential contract clause.

The future of Sergio Perez in Formula One remains uncertain as gossip about a contract stipulation persists.

Red Bull's team leader, Christian Horner, has expressed that Sergio Perez's current performance in Formula 1 is "unsustainable," amid increasing rumors about his career prospects.

Perez faced another challenging weekend at the British Grand Prix, being knocked out in the first qualifying round and then finishing the race on Sunday in 17th place, following an unsuccessful early decision to switch to intermediate tyres.

Kicking off the season with a strong performance, Perez secured three runner-up finishes in the first four races. However, since claiming a podium spot at the Chinese Grand Prix in April, his performance has dipped. In the subsequent six races, he hasn't managed to finish better than seventh, facing difficulties in qualifying rounds.

The Mexican driver has fallen to sixth place in the drivers' standings, trailing his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen by a significant 137 points. Verstappen has been the key player in keeping their team at the forefront of the constructors' rankings.

"Horner acknowledged that it's unfeasible to continue without scoring points," he conceded following Sunday's British Grand Prix.

"It's essential for us to accumulate points with that vehicle, and he's fully aware of that. He's cognizant of his duties and objectives, so there's no one more keen than Checo to get back to his peak performance."

Speculation is increasing that the recent two-year agreement Perez signed just a month ago includes a provision based on his performance, which might lead to his dismissal, potentially even within this ongoing season, should he not improve his outcomes.

According to a report from Autosport, Red Bull reserves the option to cancel Perez's contract should he trail Verstappen by over 100 points at critical moments in the championship, specifically during the summer break and at the season's conclusion.

Red Bull might consider either Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda from their RB duo, or their test driver Liam Lawson, who is behind the wheel of the team's RB20 car at Silverstone on Thursday, for their next move.

Lawson's day spent filming has merely intensified rumors regarding Perez's prospects, yet Horner acted to minimize the importance of the trial.

"Horner mentioned that the Liam aero race has been in the works for several months, and naturally, Checo is feeling the heat. This is a common occurrence in the world of Formula 1."

"When performance falls short, the stress intensifies. He's conscious of this fact and recognizes it, and this weekend, things haven't gone in his favor at all."

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Current Headlines

Site Navigation

CrashDotNet

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Copying or replicating the text, pictures, or images, whether in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.