Red Bull chiefs discuss Sergio Pérez's future amid team's struggles in 2024 season

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Pérez's future amidst performance woes

As Red Bull Racing contemplates its prospects for the 2024 season, the main order of business in the team’s upcoming strategic meeting will be the future of their embattled driver, Sergio Pérez. The team, currently battling through a turbulent season marked by stiff competition from McLaren, is witnessing its once-dominant lead in the constructors' championship dwindled to just 42 points.

Sources reveal a potential driver swap looms on the horizon, with Daniel Ricciardo and reserve driver Liam Lawson both poised to potentially replace Pérez before the Dutch Grand Prix scheduled for August 25.

Team Principal Christian Horner did not mask his disappointment following Pérez’s recent eighth-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix, which saw him slide from a promising second on the grid. "I think based on his starting position, we didn't envisage finishing eighth," remarked Horner succinctly.

Pérez’s performances have come under intense scrutiny, with Racing Advisor Helmut Marko expressing harsh criticism: "Sergio had the opportunity to take a good result from second place. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Especially in the last stint, he completely collapsed."

The upcoming content filming day at Imola this week, featuring Ricciardo and Lawson, will serve as a critical evaluation, despite the inherent limitations of such events. Importantly, this exercise might sway the decision on who partners Max Verstappen, emphasizing Red Bull’s strategic needs in constructor's standings over personal loyalty.

Monday's high-stakes meeting between Horner and Marko will set the scene for how Red Bull positions itself going forward, ensuring they do not jeopardize their championship ambitions. Marko emphasized this crucial juncture: "For us, the situation is such that we will also go through the overall situation for 2025. We have a number of drivers and we have a concept."

Horner tempered expectations around the meeting, stating, "We've got a meeting, but it's not just about Checo [Pérez]. We have other topics on the agenda as well, which we always do going into the summer break."

Nonetheless, the undercurrents suggest Pérez is, indeed, under scrutiny. Horner, reflecting on Pérez’s challenging journey, addressed the complexities: "Nobody wants to make that decision...The team has been and is right behind him, everybody wants to see him succeed, because it hurts seeing him in the situation that is."

Despite the turmoil, Red Bull faces the daunting task of reversing fortunes post-summer break, driven by a potent front-runner in Verstappen and a keen eye on the constructors' standings. Their ability to maintain supremacy will hinge upon the strategic decisions made in coming weeks. As it stands, the seasoned combination of Horner and Marko must navigate these tumultuous times with both precision and empathy.

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