Sergio Perez faced a challenging race weekend in Mexico, leading to criticism from Red Bull’s Helmut Marko. After a disappointing qualifying session where he was eliminated in Q1, Perez started the race in 18th place, claiming a braking issue in his car contributed to his struggles. Despite his hopes that a strong performance in front of his home crowd would turn around a season he described as “terrible,” things only worsened at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
The race began with promise as Perez made a strong start, but it quickly turned sour when he was penalized for starting out of position in his grid box. This five-second penalty compounded his misfortunes, as he attempted to battle with Liam Lawson on lap 18 for a points-scoring position. Unfortunately, this battle ended in contact between the two drivers, resulting in floor damage to Perez’s car and further diminishing his chances of a respectable finish.
Helmut Marko’s criticisms of Perez were pointed, highlighting the disappointment of being knocked out in the first qualifying segment, particularly given the driver’s experience. He emphasized that Perez’s incorrect car positioning on the grid was unacceptable, noting that the penalty detracted from an otherwise impressive start. Marko remarked that the ensuing conflict with Lawson was marked by impetuousness on both sides, which ultimately led to the damage that hampered Perez’s performance throughout the race.
In the aftermath of the race, Marko appeared to shift his focus towards Lawson, who had impressed with his performance in recent outings. Although initially critical of Lawson for his aggressive driving during their clash, Marko acknowledged the New Zealander’s growth and skill, suggesting that he could be in contention for a future seat with Red Bull. Lawson’s performances have raised speculation that he might replace Perez if he continues to excel, particularly given the current uncertainty surrounding Perez’s future.
Despite the mounting pressure, Perez remains steadfast in his commitment to the team, asserting that he has no intention of leaving. He has voiced confidence in the upcoming months as Red Bull works to address the car’s issues before the next season. Currently, Perez sits eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, significantly trailing teammate Max Verstappen, while Red Bull has dropped to third in the Constructors’ Championship, indicating the struggles the team faces as they seek to improve performance.
