It’s turning into more and more troublesome to see how Sergio Perez shall be retained by Crimson Bull for 2025. Whereas the Mexican has a contract, as we’ve come to see, they’re meaningless when it actually boils all the way down to it.
The message from Crimson Bull is obvious: “Checo is our driver subsequent yr” – solely which may not essentially be the case.
Perez continues to disappoint to the purpose that staff boss Christian Horner has been left exasperated, having caught by the 34-year-old till now.
Horner handed him a profession lifeline in 2021 when Perez was proven the door by Racing Level, and the staff principal has continued to defend his poor outcomes. The aforementioned contract extension was supplied early within the marketing campaign within the hope that job safety would elicit extra efficiency from his struggling driver.
This yr, it was made clear that Perez wanted to have a greater season than he did in 2023, when he was steamrollered by Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, he has not had a podium because the Chinese language Grand Prix in April, and his final victory was in Azerbaijan in April 2023.
It ought to be mirrored {that a} sturdy drive in Baku this time period got here near breaking Perez’s podium drought, till late contact with Carlos Sainz triggered each drivers to overlook out on silverware, having been battling over third place.
Perez at present finds himself in eighth place within the drivers’ championship – a staggering 242 factors behind his team-mate.
Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, sprays mud as he tries to rejoin after a spin
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
Verstappen’s epic victory within the Brazilian Grand Prix seems to be to have secured him a fourth straight world title, which he can achieve next time out in Las Vegas.
As Crimson Bull turns its consideration to the constructors’ championship, the place it sits 49 factors behind McLaren, there’s a case to be made that Perez’s failures are costing not solely staff factors however are additionally hitting its workforce within the pocket.
The monetary construction at Crimson Bull signifies that every member of workers shall be denied a win bonus of at the very least £10,000 in the event that they fail to safe the constructors’ title. Put crudely, wanting on the outcomes of the squad’s two drivers, it’s simple the place to level the finger of blame.
There has lengthy been a concept that Crimson Bull continued with Perez as a result of profitable endorsements he introduced. But cash within the staff’s coffers isn’t any comfort to a disgruntled workforce who’ve missed out on a brand new kitchen or household vacation.
Crimson Bull too can not afford any disharmony throughout the organisation. Now we have already seen it ripped and torn all through the investigation into Horner earlier this yr, which strained working relationships throughout the operation.
A positive solution to restore that injury could be to have a robust 2025 season with its primary driver, Verstappen, profitable the title and the second driver contributing sufficient to safe the constructors’ championship. It’s fairly clear that one thing wants to vary for Crimson Bull to realize that.
So, who does Crimson Bull decide? Tongues began wagging in Sao Paulo when Horner went into the Williams hospitality as, amid all of the fanfare of Franco Colapinto’s nice begin in F1, there was a fast assumption that Horner was trying out the Argentine’s availability.
Christian Horner, Workforce Principal, Crimson Bull Racing, on the grid
Picture by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Photos
Whether or not he had any intention of signing him or not, Horner was doing his due diligence, as any staff boss ought to do. He would have sought James Vowles’s opinions on Colapinto, and established an understanding of what phrases Williams is searching for. Would the staff enable him to depart completely or successfully on mortgage, and crucially for the way a lot? Horner might use the knowledge to know the market worth for a sizzling commodity that comes with profitable sponsorship.
Nevertheless, that got here earlier than the race in what was a depressing end result for the Williams driver, who crashed out to trigger the purple flag.
In contrast, Liam Lawson within the RB had a stable race and completed ninth after being rotated by Oscar Piastri. Whereas rookies reminiscent of Oliver Bearman and Colapinto, and different extra skilled drivers, had a torrid time, Lawson barely put a wheel unsuitable in what was solely his eighth F1 race and added extra factors to these he scored on his 2024 debut in Austin.
Sure, he tangled with Perez in Mexico, and had it not been one other Crimson Bull driver, presumably would have been given a pat on the again by Horner for getting his elbows out.
In the identical manner, he stood up for himself and against criticism from Fernando Alonso in Austin, which additionally didn’t dissuade Crimson Bull. Actually, it’s understood that it was supporting Lawson’s rebuttal to the two-time F1 world champion.
Colapinto is an thrilling expertise who brings sponsorship and a fan base, however he stays an unknown amount as his race at Interlagos proved. However Crimson Bull is aware of all about Lawson.
After which there may be the Kiwi’s ultimate asset – and arguably a very powerful issue that might see him exchange Perez. It’s the truth he’s popular with the Verstappens, the importance of which can’t be understated.
Liam Lawson, RB F1 Workforce VCARB 01, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
After Lawson’s drive in Sao Paulo, Jos Verstappen mentioned on TV: “I feel Lawson is doing very nicely. It appears logical to me that he’s able to step up. Let him end this season and construct confidence after which the staff has to resolve what they do for subsequent yr.”
It was a ringing endorsement from somebody who hardly ever has one thing optimistic to say.
Crimson Bull’s modus operandi has been to get the most effective out of Verstappen by protecting him pleased, and the indications are that for the meantime at the very least, he and his father would help Lawson being on the opposite aspect of the storage.
If Crimson Bull agrees, then it might finally spell the top of Perez’s time with the staff, which might bump him to RB alongside Yuki Tsunoda.
Alternatively, with no different obtainable seats on the grid for 2025, maybe it might even result in an early retirement – ought to Colapinto be part of RB from Williams.
