Sergio Perez may be replaced by Liam Lawson at Red Bull.
VCARB boss Peter Bayer is grateful he’s not the one who has to decide if Sergio Perez is ousted in favour of Liam Lawson over the summer break.
Already said to be considering a mid-season driver swap, Perez didn’t do himself any favours in qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix when he crashed at Turn 8.
‘It’s a slap in the face for Sergio Perez to be eliminated’
The Red Bull driver, who was under scrutiny, lost control of the RB20 and crashed severely due to excessive kerb usage. This unfortunate incident resulted in his elimination from qualifying right from the start.
Perez’s failure to advance out of Q1 for the fourth time in six races has had a significant impact on his championship standings. Since his elimination in Monaco, he has only managed to accumulate 11 points. In stark contrast, his teammate Max Verstappen has amassed an impressive 94 points.
Helmut Marko confirmed after Perez’s latest crash that Red Bull will sit down in the summer break to discuss their driver situation with team boss Chrisitan Horner saying they “cannot run on one leg”.
Initially, there were suggestions that Perez might be replaced by VCARB driver Daniel Ricciardo. However, more recent speculation indicates that reserve driver Lawson is currently the frontrunner to take Perez’s place.
After his recent Silverstone test in the Red Bull, the Kiwi informed Bayer that the RB20 is much more forgiving compared to the VCARB car. This serves as good news for Red Bull.
“Thank God it’s not my decision, it’s up to Helmut and Christian,” VCARB boss Bayer told Motorsport-Total.com.
Speaking from my own perspective, I view every challenge in life as a significant opportunity. This principle applies to the sport as well.
Last year, Liam demonstrated his ability to manage pressure even in the most challenging circumstances.
I had a conversation with him because he had driven the Red Bull last week. According to him, driving that car was an amazing experience as it was remarkably forgiving in comparison to our own car. He mentioned that it is less likely to make mistakes.
Simultaneously, once you reach the forefront, it exhibits exceptional agility. It is imperative to acquire mastery over this car.
“It is not up to me to decide, but all the guys possess enough confidence to handle a car of that nature. Yuki (Tsunoda) emphasized this during the press conference, mentioning that it is an essential part of their training to hop into such a vehicle and take on the risk, giving it their all.”
The latest from Red Bull on Sergio Perez’s F1 future
Christian Horner’s blunt verdict as Sergio Perez Hungarian GP shunt escalates Red Bull pressure
Sergio Perez Red Bull future jeopardy intensifies as Helmut Marko confirms ‘there will be a meeting’
Bayer believes that Perez’s crash could not have occurred at a more inconvenient moment for the seasoned six-time Grand Prix victor.
“He said it is a disrespectful blow to Checo to be eliminated here in Q1,”
“We have been instructed to maintain a low profile until the final race. Our aim is to divert our attention from this matter and alleviate any pressure on the drivers.”
However, it is challenging for him to sleep peacefully. I am highly certain about that.
The driver situation isn’t the only aspect that Red Bull will be considering for the last 10 races of this season; the decision made during the summer break will also have an impact on the following year.
Bayer admitted, “We have many topics to address. The matter concerning Red Bull Racing is open for deliberation, and we are considering the year 2025. The timing is a crucial aspect: should we proceed at a leisurely pace or set a deadline? Should it be during the summer or in October? We need to examine these aspects.”
Read next: ‘Holding that team hostage’ – Red Bull urged to drop Sergio Perez
