Helmut Marko and Christian Horner have made the decision to retain Sergio Perez for the remainder of the 2024 season. The future of Perez at Red Bull had been uncertain recently, with rumors suggesting that he would be let go due to underwhelming performances. However, Perez has managed to convince the team to keep him on board for the rest of the season. Now, he has shared his thoughts on this decision.
Following the Belgian GP, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner had a meeting with Helmut Marko. Horner later announced at the team’s factory that Sergio Perez would be staying with the team for the foreseeable future. It’s worth noting, however, that this decision comes after Perez allegedly failed to meet the performance expectations outlined in his contract.
Helmut Marko briefly commented on this decision, affirming that Perez will remain with the team. Marko emphasized that Red Bull is hoping Perez can rediscover his previous form. After the Belgian GP, Marko admitted that Perez had a complete collapse during the race.
Sergio Perez wasn’t the only driver with an uncertain future. Red Bull’s second driver, Daniel Ricciardo, was also in a difficult position. Initially, it was believed that Liam Lawson could replace the Australian driver after being outperformed. However, in recent weeks, Ricciardo became the only alternative to Perez if Red Bull decided to part ways with the Mexican driver.
Nevertheless, Daniel Ricciardo will continue racing for Red Bull’s sister team. This was confirmed by Helmut Marko, who stated that there will be no changes at either team. Ricciardo’s presence at Red Bull brings in significant sponsorship money for the Faenza-based team.
Undoubtedly, Red Bull is prioritizing consistency for the second half of the 2024 season. However, the team’s decision could prove to be a mistake if Perez fails to improve in the upcoming races. Max Verstappen is facing a genuine threat for the championship this season, and therefore, Perez must bounce back after the summer break.