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Red Bull chief confirms Perez replacement decision after…read more

Red Bull Racing has addressed growing uncertainty regarding Sergio Perez’s future with the team following a challenging season for the Mexican driver. Perez’s recent struggles were highlighted once again during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he finished a disappointing 10th. His weekend got off to a poor start during qualifying, where he was eliminated in Q1 after posting only the 16th-fastest time, far below expectations for a Red Bull driver.

This performance marked another low in what has been a difficult run of form for Perez, who has secured just 49 points over his last 16 races. As the 2024 season nears its end, Perez finds himself sitting eighth in the drivers’ standings. This is a stark contrast to his early form earlier in the season and his teammate Max Verstappen’s dominance. Despite signing a contract extension earlier in the year, Perez’s ongoing issues have raised serious questions about whether he will remain with the team beyond next season.

Perez’s difficulties have also affected Red Bull Racing’s overall performance. Although Red Bull has already secured the Constructors’ Championship title, their dominance has been overshadowed by the Mexican driver’s inconsistency. Max Verstappen, who clinched his fourth consecutive drivers’ title in Las Vegas, has largely been responsible for keeping Red Bull competitive at the top. In contrast, Perez has failed to provide the level of support expected from a driver in a top team.

For Red Bull, Perez’s lack of results is now more than just a personal issue; it has real consequences for the team’s success in the standings. Despite Verstappen’s heroics, Red Bull now finds itself in third place in the Constructors’ Championship, behind both McLaren and Ferrari. This decline has put the team’s decision-making under scrutiny, particularly as it looks toward the future.

Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, has repeatedly voiced his support for Perez throughout the season, insisting that the team was standing by their driver. However, this loyalty has increasingly come under strain as Perez’s form continues to wane. While Horner has maintained a public show of confidence, Red Bull’s patience appears to be wearing thin, and speculation about potential replacements has escalated.

Two names frequently mentioned in connection with Perez’s seat are Red Bull junior drivers Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. Both have shown promise, and their performances have kept them on Red Bull’s radar as potential candidates for a 2025 drive. While neither has officially been confirmed as a replacement, their names have surfaced as part of the ongoing speculation about Perez’s future.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s longtime advisor, recently provided some clarity on the situation, confirming that a decision regarding Perez’s future will not be made until after the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on December 8. In an interview with Austrian media outlet OE24, Marko stated, “That will be decided after the finale in Abu Dhabi. In any case, Checo is acting as if he would drive for us for another year.”

Despite this, Perez’s future is far from guaranteed. While the 34-year-old driver has expressed confidence that he will continue with Red Bull into 2025, his recent performances have done little to ease the growing doubts. As Red Bull evaluates its options for the upcoming season, Perez is now under intense pressure to deliver results in the final two races.

With the team deferring any final decision until after the season concludes, both fans and analysts remain in suspense about whether Perez will stay with the team or whether Red Bull will opt for a fresh face to partner Verstappen in 2025.