After two consecutive seasons, Red Bull Racing has become the team to beat, clinching the Drivers and Constructors Championships. This season, Max Verstappen has secured his fourth consecutive championship. In contrast, Red Bull lost out on a constructors championship by 77 points to the newly crowned champion, McLaren.
Formula 1 does not believe in blaming a specific person or driver within a team for losing points, podiums, races, or, in this case, championships. With a team that looked dominant from the first few races, Max Verstappen did everything in his race craft to ensure Red Bull secured another Constructors title. But it was not enough.
However, Sergio Perez’s future as a Mexican driver may look even bleaker than it did before the summer break.
Red Bull’s Title Aspirations Faded After Baku
Embed from Getty ImagesRed Bull held their rivals down for 16 rounds of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. But when Formula 1 concluded, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Milton Keynes-based team fell victim to its newly charging contender, McLaren—resulting in a 20-point lead to the Woking team.
Since Azerbaijan, McLaren has not looked back but forward to success. In Abu Dhabi, they won the 2024 Constructors Championship. But this mountainous charge from Papaya was sought with difficulty not just by Ferrari, which took second place, but also by Red Bull.
The Flying Dutchman was able to take two more race wins. Even though the Red Bull was no longer the car to beat. So why did Red Bull still lose out to McLaren and Ferrari? Let’s look at the other side of the Red Bull garage.
Sergio Perez’s Performance from Baku to Abu Dhabi
Embed from Getty ImagesPerez’s performance from Baku to Abu Dhabi has been abysmal. He had nine points, with his best finish in the United States Grand Prix, finishing seventh and equalling six points and scoring only a point in Singapore, Brazil and Las Vegas.
Compared to his four-time world championship team-mate, who scored 134 points, won two more races and clinched his fourth championship within the same machinery, this begs the question of why Sergio could not perform at the same level as Max.
With the season concluded, Red Bull’s CEO and Team Principal, Christian Horner, told Sky Sports F1:
“Now we have got the season out of the way. We will sit down with him and reflect on the season and obviously where it has gone wrong, and collectively work out the right and appropriate way forward.”
This indicates that Red Bull is considering exploring other options if it decides not to continue with the Mexican Minister of Defence.
Who Would Red Bull Choose To Replace Perez?
Embed from Getty ImagesChristian Horner has expressed interest in the two drivers racing for Visa Cash App RB (VCARB). The first being Liam Lawson:
“Liam, in challenging circumstances, has done a very good job if you analyse what he’s done in the time that he’s had and the race pace that he’s had. I think he’s done a good job.”
The second is Yuki Tsunoda:
“Yuki has done a good job and they, in the event that anything was decided with Checo, would be the candidates we would obviously look towards.”
Will Red Bull Release Perez Before The 2025 Season?
Embed from Getty ImagesEvery team has a joint venture with its two drivers to win the Constructors Championship. However, with Perez only scoring nine points compared to Verstappen’s 134 between Baku and Abu Dhabi, serious questions must be raised.
Not only on Perez’s performance but also on his future. Every team on the grid is in Formula 1 to win. If there were no ambition to win, then the team would not last in the sport.
With one driver pushing the limits of the RB20 and one struggling to stay on the points, tough decisions have to be made for the team’s betterment in the future.
This is to discuss Perez’s future within the pinnacle of motorsport and determine who will replace the Mexican driver for next season.
But who is worthy of such a demanding seat? Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda?
If you would like to learn more news about the world of Formula 1? Then why not check out “McLaren Become The New Constructors Champions!” or “Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: The Final Challenge is Here!”