Red Bull has dismissed Sergio Perez. This is something that happens in F1, and given how things had unfolded, it couldn’t have ended any differently. His performance during the last season was almost embarrassing for a driver who, in a rather negative way, contributed to the overwhelming defeat in the constructors’ championship. In this regard, it is interesting to recall the position of Sergio Perez’s father, who throughout the 2024 season had always defended his son. He stated that Sergio would remain in the top tier of motorsport for many more years to come.
All of this was said with the possibility of fighting for and winning a drivers’ title, as, according to Antonio Garibay, there were chances of doing so, as F1 teams would have competed to sign him. We bring his testimony back to light after Red Bull dismissed Sergio Perez, highlighting how his father’s words have drastically changed. “Everything has a beginning and an end in life, and one must learn to live with certain choices. There is no Plan B or C because the chapter related to the highest level of motorsport is now closed. It’s time for Checo to dedicate himself to his family and enjoy life.”
The sacrifices around the world are over. A new phase of life begins, the most beautiful one, where Sergio Perez can be with the people he had put second to his work. This is the reasoning of the “happiest dad in the world.” On one hand, we understand the empathy in such a delicate moment and appreciate Antonio’s desire to protect his son. However, perhaps the nonsense he spouted in the past could have been avoided to prevent embarrassing situations and to avoid planting impossible dreams in his eldest son’s head. Let’s move on; there are other interesting aspects to evaluate in Red Bull’s near future.
F1, Red Bull had to justify its structure to the ownership
Red Bull, as a motorsport division, wanted to send an important signal. We’re talking about the driver academy, which, since Max Verstappen, has not produced any truly effective talents on track who are capable of reaching the most important seat. A sort of self-consolation, to give some value to the work done with the younger drivers, which could make sense. A recognition useful to prove the effectiveness of the large budget spent in recent years. Let’s not forget that the Milton Keynes team is not Ferrari, which can afford to refuse sponsors every season, being spoiled for choice.
The most talked-about team principal in F1, Christian Horner, has to provide convincing explanations every season to the headquarters in Austria, Red Bull GmbH. Among other things, the current Visa Cash App is the only sports division where the space boy is not CEO. This makes us think that placing a product from the academy alongside Max Verstappen was a sort of obligation. A way to justify the work of many people and show that the driver academy works and can deliver the expected result. Maybe not every single season, but at least with some regularity.
Moreover, such a move largely serves to certify the spending of the salaries related to the management of the Faenza-based team, which, if not contributing to the cause, would not make sense to exist. There is also another interesting issue worth considering, which is the team’s choice to take Liam Lawson and not Yuki Tsunoda. Again, the fact that the Japanese driver, despite his greater experience, was discarded without hesitation, makes it clear why he remains behind the wheel of the B car.
This is almost exclusively related to commercial and image matters, with support from the Japanese motor company based in Sakura. A partnership that could have brought Tsunoda to Red Bull when the Japanese engines were powering the Austrian cars, but at this point, it no longer has the strength to do so, considering that Honda has formed a partnership with Aston Martin for the near future. The last point worth noting, in our view, concerns the emotional sphere of the number one driver. Although Max is not afraid of anyone, he too has his preferences regarding his teammate.
We know that Max Verstappen would have chosen to share the garage again with Sergio Perez. Confirming this, his public statements in recent weeks, where he always defended the Mexican, calling him neither a fool nor a bad driver. This was in part due to personal gain, as with Checo in the car, Red Bull often focused solely on Max, providing total support for the drivers’ title. For the rest, we can say that Verstappen’s preference was more for Liam Lawson, a driver with whom he thought he could form a stronger bond within the garage.
For Red Bull, after the Sergio Perez episode, which significantly contributed to the clear defeat in the constructors’ championship, it was also crucial to place a consistent driver alongside the Dutchman, one who could support the team’s work in harmony and towards the established goals. Horner is a winner and, as we understand, the loss in the constructors’ standings weighed heavily. Especially considering that even Ferrari, despite the performance deficit due to the misleading floor in Spain, finished ahead at the end of the season. A scenario that should not be repeated.
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