Red Bull team principal Christian Horner admits he can’t guarantee Sergio Perez will complete the 2024 Formula 1 championship with the Austrian side. With another lackluster showing, the 34-year-old driver’s F1 future appears increasingly uncertain.
Red Bull’s Patience Running Thin with the Mexican driver
The Mexican Grand Prix added yet another setback for Sergio Perez. Starting near the back of the grid after a poor qualifying session, he struggled to make any headway.
Sergio Perez’s troubles began with a penalty for a false start — but that was just the beginning. The Red Bull driver soon found himself locked in a battle with Liam Lawson, which left him with sidepod damage and ended any hope of a points finish. Sergio Perez finished in 17th place, the last among classified drivers at the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. After the Mexico City Grand Prix, Christian Horner spoke candidly about Sergio Perez’s position on the team:
“Look, it’s a performance-based business,” he admitted in an interview for Jenna Fryer – “There comes a point in time that difficult decisions have to be made.”
Lawson and Tsunoda Poised to Replace Perez
It now seems a matter of “when,” not “if,” Sergio Perez will be replaced at Red Bull. His performances have been inconsistent for the past two seasons, creating a gap Red Bull can no longer ignore.
With Ferrari and McLaren regularly fighting for wins and podiums with both drivers, Red Bull has slipped to third in the Constructors’ standings, a consequence of sticking with Sergio Perez despite diminishing returns. Even in the dominant RB20, he has struggled to secure consistent podium finishes, and as rival teams close the performance gap, he often finds himself barely within the points.
Red Bull is now seriously considering a lineup change before the season’s end in Abu Dhabi. Christian Horner’s recent comments hint at this possibility. Both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda are ready options who could step in seamlessly and potentially bring much-needed points.
Since early May’s Miami GP, Sergio Perez has failed to secure a top-five finish, giving Red Bull little to lose by making a change. Bringing in either Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda now would offer a low-risk opportunity to evaluate who might best partner Max Verstappen going forward.
Though Red Bull surprised many by retaining Sergio Perez after the summer break, a mid-season reversal seems more likely as the final rounds approach. With only four races to go, The Mexican driver’s tenure at Red Bull looks increasingly uncertain.
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