Sergio Perez, Mexican driver for Red Bull, celebrates his second place on the podium. On April 7, 2024, during the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Japan, as part of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Red Bull announced that Sergio Perez has signed an extension contract to continue with the team in Formula 1 until 2026, ending any doubts about his future.
The Mexican driver’s decision will have significant effects both on the track and in the driver market in the coming months. However, who will benefit and who will suffer from this news?
Perez stated that the uncertainty about his future did not affect his performance at Red Bull. However, it is evident that the lack of clarity increased the likelihood of inconsistent results.
Red Bull has now eliminated this uncertainty by choosing to have faith in Perez and offering him a long-term contract, despite his recent struggles to reach Q3 in the last two races and only scoring four points.
Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, is confident that Perez is not experiencing the same performance decline he had in his previous season, where he finished 290 points behind his teammate Max Verstappen in the championship.
Perez may consider himself lucky due to Verstappen’s exceptional skills and the limited options available to Red Bull, which made him the convenient choice rather than the most competitive one.
With the contractual pressure now eliminated for Perez, the team’s hopes of winning the Constructors’ title will depend on the performance he delivers, especially since he has dropped to fifth place in the Drivers’ Championship as the competition has intensified.
Verstappen has made it clear that he prefers to have a teammate who does not challenge his dominance within the team, and Perez aligns with this preference.
Since joining Red Bull in 2021, Verstappen has consistently outperformed Perez in all aspects, and the gap between them has only widened over the past two seasons.
Perez has not defeated the Dutchman on track since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in April last year – and even then it was a Safety Car intervention that handed the victory to the Mexican. Verstappen’s statements in Monaco demonstrate that he believes he can surpass all drivers in fair circumstances. However, having Perez – a driver who understands his support role and will not disrupt the current situation – instead of someone who may be determined to gain an advantage, will allow the reigning champion to focus on the growing external threat from Red Bull’s competitors.
Perez’s recent struggles have coincided with updates introduced by both Ferrari and McLaren, which have turned their respective cars into race winners. Lando Norris took advantage of McLaren’s upgraded MCL38 car to secure his first Formula 1 victory in Miami, and also gave Verstappen a tough challenge in Imola. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc ended his string of disappointing performances in his home race to triumph for Ferrari in Monaco.
In addition to Red Bull’s difficulties on the streets of Monte Carlo, Ferrari is now 24 points behind the championship leaders and must be considered a genuine contender for the title. As Norris mentioned last month, Red Bull’s main rivals can rely on two equally competitive drivers at the front, while it is clear that Perez is not on the same level as Verstappen. With the Verstappen-Red Bull partnership no longer unbreakable, Perez’s results will become more significant, and if he cannot break free from his current slump, this could open the door for Ferrari or even McLaren to clinch the Constructors’ title this season.
When it was announced even before the start of the races that Ferrari had signed Lewis Hamilton to partner with current driver Charles Leclerc in 2025, Sainz was considered a possible return to the Red Bull team. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revealed that talks had taken place with Sainz’s representatives, and it is believed that he postponed his response to Audi’s proposal in the hope that his relationship with the Austrian team could be completed. However, the career progression he experienced in 2015 would ultimately become the biggest obstacle to his chances of replacing Perez in 2025.
Sainz joined the main division alongside Verstappen at Red Bull’s affiliate team, formerly known as Toro Rosso. However, the team environment became hostile as both drivers saw an opportunity for promotion. Verstappen was eventually promoted after five races in the following season and proved to be the right choice. On the other hand, Sainz has since gone through Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari after leaving Toro Rosso and will be changing teams once again.
Although Sainz has shown through his performances at Ferrari in 2021 that he has matured as a driver capable of winning races and replacing Verstappen when necessary, Red Bull is not interested in someone who can challenge their star. This feeling has become more apparent in recent months due to tension within Red Bull caused by an investigation into team boss Christian Horner, which raised concerns about the possibility of Verstappen leaving. Verstappen emphasized the importance of a stable environment for his career prospects, and Red Bull would not want to risk destabilizing that, especially with Mercedes in the picture.
Just like Sainz, Tsunoda’s performances would justify a spot at Red Bull in 2025. Although Tsunoda acknowledged that he was fortunate to retain his position in the sport after a tumultuous debut season in 2021, he has developed as a skilled driver. Despite initial doubts when Daniel Ricciardo returned to Formula 1 with the team now known as AlphaTauri, Tsunoda has outperformed his more experienced teammate since the beginning of this season in Bahrain. With five points finishes in eight races, he has helped elevate RB to sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
However, Red Bull’s top management has been avoiding discussing Tsunoda’s potential for advancement, indicating lingering doubts from the past. Tsunoda has hinted that he would be open to leaving the Red Bull team if a tempting opportunity arises. With rumors of Audi’s involvement in Sauber and a possible acquisition, Tsunoda may consider seizing this chance while his value is high and attracting significant attention.
Ricciardo entered this season with the goal of impressing Red Bull and proving that he still has what it takes to reclaim the seat he left at the end of 2018. However, his slow start and difficulties in matching his less experienced teammate have all but closed the door for a comeback in 2025. Ricciardo is currently trailing Tsunoda by 6 to 1 in direct battles and has only scored points in one Grand Prix, compared to his teammate’s impressive five.
Ricciardo is certain that his issues are not similar to his unsuccessful period with McLaren, and his impressive performance in Miami, where he secured fourth place in the Sprint race, proves that it is not just a coping strategy.
There are speculations that Red Bull has the option to extend Perez’s contract for a second term, giving Ricciardo some hope. However, he is aware that his tough start to the current season has hampered his chances of returning to Red Bull Racing.
Last season, when Lawson replaced Ricciardo, who was out due to injury, in five races and impressed, it seemed inevitable that he would secure a permanent spot on the grid for the next season.
But despite Ricciardo’s shortcomings, RB CEO Peter Bayer stated that the team’s preference is to keep their current lineup.
In the end, the final decision lies with Red Bull. However, with Horner’s continued faith in Ricciardo and Tsunoda’s undeniable performance, it is possible that Lawson’s opportunity may slip away.
© 2024
The thrilling final of the World Cup Soccer took place last night at the city’s main stadium. The teams from Brazil and Argentina faced off in a match full of excitement and tension. Football fans from around the world were eager to see who would take home the most coveted trophy in sports.
From the beginning, both teams showed their determination to win. Brazil opened the scoring in the first half, with an incredible goal from their star striker. However, Argentina did not let themselves be discouraged and quickly equalized the game with a perfect free-kick goal.
The second half was even more exciting, with the teams fighting with all their might to score the winning goal. Both goalkeepers had incredible performances, making spectacular saves to keep the score level. The game went into extra time, and nerves were on edge.
In the end, it was Argentina who managed to score the winning goal in the last minute of extra time. The Argentine players and fans exploded with joy, while the Brazilians were devastated. It was an epic final, which will forever remain in the memory of all football lovers.
Congratulations to Argentina for their well-deserved victory and to Brazil for their excellent campaign in the tournament. Football is an unpredictable sport, and that is what makes it so exciting. We can’t wait for the next World Cup and for more unforgettable moments like this one.
