Helmut Marko slams ‘inconsistent’ Sergio Perez, names Lando Norris as a potential replacement for Red Bull

The 2023 Italian GP ended on a very strong note for Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, but amidst Red Bull’s successful 2023 run, things are not as merry as they appear to be. Perez recently gave statements about exploring alternatives for next year, and Red Bull’s team adviser, Helmut Marko, has also provided some shady comments regarding him in the media and has also brought up the name of Lando Norris.

The Red Bull F1 team has been on a rampage this year, with Max Verstappen brilliantly leading the team’s charge. However, Sergio Perez, on the other hand, has had a tumultuous time behind the wheel of the RB19 and has come under much scrutiny. Helmut Marko is not pleased with the Mexican’s efforts and has indicated that Lando Norris is a candidate to take over Perez’s seat.

While discussing the same in detail, he said, as reported by Formula.uno, “Perez is not consistent; he is not always focused. Perez has a contract until 2024, and Norris has a contract until 2025. Unfortunately, it’s that long. He [Norris] is definitely a candidate for us. At Toro Rosso, we had already reached an agreement with him at the time until his manager realized there was an option for a McLaren contract.”

“In terms of youth and speed, he would suit us very well. Sergio, on the other hand, is already over 30 and is expecting his fourth child. So he also has other interests, so you have to see what happens next.” Looking at the comments of Dr.Marko, it is pretty clear that everything is not right in the Red Bull camp, and something is brewing.

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Helmut Marko has a well-known reputation for being ruthless

While Helmut Marko has indicated that Sergio Perez could be pushed out of Red Bull ahead of the 2024 season to make way for a young and aggressive driver like Lando Norris, his extreme reaction does not come as a huge surprise. He has, in the past, axed quite a few underperforming drivers.

Moreover, to get a taste of how ruthless he is, one does not have to go way back, as the recent example was the brutal sacking of Nyck De Vries from the AlphaTauri team. The Dutchman was sacked just after 10 Grand Prix events, and this is enough to understand how extreme Marko can get when he makes up his mind.

Considering everything mentioned above, it seems the next victim to fall at the hands of Helmut Marko is the current Red Bull driver, Sergio Perez. The duo has been in verbal battles before, and the way the 2024 saga is shaping out, it seems very likely that the Milton-Keynes-based team could drop a bomb this year or ahead of next year’s campaign.

In case you missed it:

• Christian Horner claims Red Bull’s F1 dominance will ‘inevitably’ come to a bitter end
• Toto Wolff grudgingly accepts Ferrari was ‘quicker’ than Mercedes in Monza

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