Why has Red Bull not sacked Sergio Perez?
Sergio Perez has managed to remain at Red Bull since 2021 despite persistent rumors over his potential sacking.
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Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen (via RaceFans)
Sergio Perez is one of the most experienced drivers on the 2024 F1 grid. The Mexican driver joined Red Bull in 2021 to partner Max Verstappen in place of ousted Alex Albon. The 34-year-old has been at risk of losing his seat since the past two seasons. However, Perez has managed to stay at Milton Keynes.
Checo has not had the best of times at Red Bull. The Mexican driver only won 2 races in 2023 when Max Verstappen annihilated the competition with a record-breaking 19 victories. The 34-year-old has failed to deliver consistently even in 2024.
Red Bull is infamous for its brutal approach towards its drivers. Daniel Ricciardo was sacked from RB without even a proper farewell after the Singapore GP. Though, it seems that the Austrian giant has been a lot more patient with Sergio Perez.
What is the reason for Sergio Perez’s stay at Red Bull?
Perez has played the role of a number 2 driver perfectly at Red Bull since 2021. The Mexican driver has never disobeyed team orders to help Max Verstappen. Moreover, Checo’s experience ensures that he would not be involved in racing incidents and thus provides stability to the team.
However, stability does not matter if Sergio Perez is nowhere close to Verstappen. The 34-year-old’s underperformance is the reason why the team sits third in the standings while Max Verstappen is set to win his fourth title in a row.
Nevertheless, it is easier for Red Bull to maintain this conflict-free pairing rather than make a bet on a young Liam Lawson. Lawson could become a threat to Max Verstappen and this in turn could create a stressful situation at Milton Keynes. As such, Checo is simply a safer bet.
Moreover, the Mexican driver brings considerable revenue in sponsorship to Red Bull. Milton Keynes reportedly receives over $30 million from Perez’s backers. This is a significant amount even for a top team. Thus it makes it easier for Milton Keynes to continue with Checo. However, things could change in the future as Red Bull has a habit of making surprise driver moves.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2367 Articles Published)