Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 future with Red Bull Racing looks increasingly uncertain as his expected performance improvement has not materialized, according to Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor. Ahead of his home race at the Mexican Grand Prix, Perez hoped a strong showing would quiet rumors about his potential departure. However, after struggling with pace and brake issues during qualifying, he placed a disappointing 18th, his worst qualifying at this venue, further fueling speculation. Starting well behind emerging talent Liam Lawson, who is being considered as his replacement, Perez’s underwhelming performance came at a critical time.
Marko voiced his concerns openly, saying that despite expectations, Perez’s turnaround has simply “not materialised.” While Perez cited brake problems on the team radio, Marko emphasized that the anticipated resurgence never happened, hinting at deeper concerns about Perez’s consistency. This lack of improvement raises doubts about Red Bull’s confidence in Perez’s future contributions, particularly as the team seeks drivers who can reliably support their high-performance standards alongside Max Verstappen. Marko’s public critique underscores Red Bull’s impatience with what it views as Perez’s inability to perform under pressure.
Perez’s struggles contrast sharply with the optimism expressed by his father, Antonio Perez, who predicted that his son would eventually secure a World Championship for Mexico. Speaking to Mexican media ahead of the race, Antonio Perez confidently asserted that Perez had the potential and drive to reach the top. However, given his current standings—over 200 points behind Verstappen with just a few races left this season—such aspirations seem increasingly out of reach. Marko, while acknowledging Antonio Perez’s hopes, cast doubt on the likelihood of his son achieving a championship in Formula 1.
Red Bull’s scrutiny also extended to another driver, Yuki Tsunoda, who crashed during Q2 in Mexico. With Liam Lawson performing consistently well and competing for a spot on the team, Tsunoda’s recent mistakes may cost him. Marko criticized Tsunoda’s crash as an “unnecessary” error, adding that it seems the pressure from Lawson’s rising reputation has visibly affected him. This incident, combined with an earlier spin in Austin, raises questions about Tsunoda’s ability to handle high-stakes scenarios, casting doubt on his candidacy as a viable replacement for Perez.
To complicate Tsunoda’s weekend, Marko hinted that the team might lack a spare floor panel for his car, potentially forcing him to start from the back of the grid. This mechanical setback adds to the pressure on Tsunoda, whose recent performance hasn’t met Red Bull’s expectations. As Red Bull weighs its driver lineup for next season, both Perez and Tsunoda face mounting pressure to prove their worth amidst the rise of Lawson, whose consistent showing puts him in strong contention for a seat in 2024.