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Sergio Perez has encountered significant challenges with both form and consistency throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season, contributing to Red Bull’s recent decline in the Constructors' Championship standings. With just three races remaining in the season, the team has slipped to third place, behind McLaren and Ferrari, after once leading the championship by a comfortable margin.
Brundle’s bold prediction: Perez may be on his way out
Martin Brundle, a former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 broadcaster, has weighed in on Perez’s future at Red Bull. Reflecting on Perez’s performance, particularly after the disappointing Mexico City Grand Prix, Brundle hinted that Perez’s tenure with the team might soon be coming to an end.
“I think it certainly is his last Mexico City Grand Prix in a Red Bull,” Brundle remarked. “That would be my gut feeling... He’s had a great career, and I’m sure he’d like it to last a little bit longer. But we’re seeing so many young guns coming into the teams now and doing a great job. And obviously, Red Bull is staring third in the Constructors’ Championship right in the face now.”
Struggling for consistency: Perez’s decline in points
Perez’s 2024 season began promisingly, with the Mexican driver securing 85 points across the first five races, a solid performance that saw him sitting in second place in the championship and helping to secure Red Bull’s early lead in the Constructors’ Championship. However, since then, his form has faltered, with Perez only adding 66 points in the subsequent 16 races.
His total of 151 points is a stark contrast to Max Verstappen’s dominant 393 points, which highlights the widening gap between the two drivers. This disparity has been a significant factor in Red Bull’s drop to third in the team standings, with both McLaren and Ferrari capitalizing on Red Bull's weakened position in the latter stages of the season.
Red Bull facing difficult decisions for 2025
Despite being under contract until the end of 2026, Perez’s future with Red Bull remains uncertain. Team principal Christian Horner and senior advisor Helmut Marko have both suggested that the team may soon be forced to make “difficult decisions” regarding their driver lineup, especially as they look ahead to the 2025 season.
While Perez maintains his contract is “watertight,” the mounting pressure on the team to secure consistent results may lead to a change in strategy.
“The scrutiny is constant. From a team’s perspective, we’re working with him as hard as we can to try and support him,” Horner said after the Mexico Grand Prix. “But there comes a point in time when you can only do so much.”
Red Bull’s options for 2025: Colapinto and Lawson in the mix
The second Red Bull team, VCARB, currently has an open seat for 2025, with the team reportedly eyeing Williams’ rising star Franco Colapinto. The Argentine driver is seen as a potential future Red Bull talent, with rumours swirling that he could join the team alongside Verstappen. However, there’s also speculation about Colapinto possibly switching to Alpine in place of Jack Doohan.
Liam Lawson, another promising talent within the Red Bull family, is also in contention. The Kiwi driver made his full-time F1 debut this season, replacing Daniel Ricciardo after the Singapore Grand Prix, and is highly regarded by the Red Bull hierarchy.
With only a handful of races left in the season, Red Bull’s focus is on maximizing their performance across both cars. As Horner emphasized, “We need both drivers in tip-top form,” and unless Perez can deliver a remarkable turnaround in the final races, his future with the team remains in serious doubt.
