Ex-F1 world champion confirms Red Bull ‘can’t rely’ on Sergio Perez to be their future F1 driver

Sergio Perez had a horrendous 2023 campaign at the pinnacle of motor racing.

Ex-F1 world champion confirms Red Bull ‘can’t rely’ on Sergio Perez to be their future F1 driver

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez (Via IMAGO)

The Red Bull Formula 1 team has been dominating at the pinnacle of motor racing since 2022. The team has been performing at a very high level but one thing that has so far proved to be their Achilles heel is their second driver, Sergio Perez. The Mexican has just not been able to perform anywhere close to Max Verstappen.

The former 2-time F1 world champion, Mika Hakkinen, has taken note of this fact and has made it known that according to him, Sergio Perez does not have a future at Red Bull. Perez’s current deal with the Milton-Keynes-based team is slated to come to a close at the end of 2024.

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Mike Hakkinen while talking about Perez recently, said via X;

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I know that having a Mexican driver is important for Red Bull. Mexico is a big market, which has its effects on things. But ultimately, you're there to race and bring good results, and to develop the car faster. You can't rely on only one driver.

Looking at the reaction of the former German, it seems that he does not see a way in which Sergio Perez would be able to extend his current deal with the Christian Horner-led team. Hakkinen firmly feels Perez will be on his way out of Red Bull at the end of 2024.

Sergio Perez will race for his F1 career in 2024

While Mika Hakkinen does not see Sergio Perez continuing with Red Bull beyond 2024, the latter has only one option and that is to have full faith in his abilities and try to put in good performances next year. Because even if does not manage to secure a new Red Bull deal, he will have to put in performances to get noticed by other teams.

Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez (Credits: Sky Sports)

However, keeping in view how Perez speaks about the Red Bull F1 team, his main target for next year will be to somehow manage to get a contract extension. He understands that his ongoing run with the Austrian outfit is his last opportunity to compete in F1 with a top team.

Sergio Perez has been with Red Bull since the start of the 2021 season. He has so far had three years with them but has still not been able to deliver the goods regularly. The 2024 F1 season is most definitely going to be the most important campaign of Perez’s long F1 career.

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