Sergio Perez to Remain with Red Bull Amid Performance Concerns
- Sergio Perez, the Mexican racing driver, signed a contract extension with Red Bull in June, securing his position until 2026.
- Despite facing struggles in recent performances, Red Bull has publicly supported Perez.
- This commitment reflects the team's confidence in his abilities and potential for improvement.
Sergio Perez will continue to race for Red Bull for the remainder of the season, despite a disappointing performance that has seen him fail to secure a podium finish since the fourth race. Team management convened on Monday to deliberate potential changes, considering replacing Perez with either Daniel Ricciardo or reserve driver Liam Lawson ahead of the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix. However, team principal Christian Horner confirmed, “Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver,” expressing optimism for his performance on familiar circuits. The season has been challenging for the 34-year-old Mexican driver, who signed a two-year contract in June. His recent performance at the Belgian Grand Prix was particularly underwhelming, finishing seventh after starting from second on the grid. Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko criticized Perez’s race execution, stating he “completely collapsed” during the final stint, which saw him clock lap times significantly slower than expected. This season, Perez has only managed to finish on the podium four times and currently sits seventh in the driver standings. In contrast, his teammate Max Verstappen leads the championship with seven victories out of 14 races. Both drivers’ recent struggles have narrowed Red Bull’s lead in the constructors’ championship to just 42 points, as McLaren has gained momentum with strong finishes from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in Hungary.