Daniel Ricciardo’s Bid to Replace Sergio Perez Served Brutal Blow as Checo’s Marketing Pull Gives Red Bull a Headache

Daniel Ricciardo‘s potential return to Red Bull has ignited speculation about Sergio Perez‘s future with the team, despite his significant $33 million contribution through sponsorships. The world of Formula 1 revolves around talent and financial backing, as drivers compete for limited seats.

Sergio Perez holds great value for Red Bull as the sole Mexican driver on the grid and attracts lucrative sponsorships for the Austrian racing company. However, his recent underwhelming performances raise doubts about his seat retention. Especially now that Daniel Ricciardo is back with the Red Bull family, driving for AlphaTauri.

The situation puts Red Bull in a tough spot financially, as Perez’s social media revenue alone surpasses that of even Max Verstappen. Ted Kravitz believes that if Ricciardo impresses during his time at AlphaTauri, Perez might have reason to worry. But, in an unexpected acknowledgment, David Croft reveals additional information about Checo’s impressive selling ability.

In both North America and Latin America, Checo plays a pivotal role in driving the sales of Red Bull. His remarkable sponsorship contributions are particularly significant, especially during these cost-cap times. Interestingly, a substantial portion of Red Bull F1 merchandise, approximately 65%, is sold to Mexico, underscoring Checo’s substantial impact on the team’s popularity in the region.

Read More: Sergio Perez’s $33,000,000 Contribution to Red Bull Deemed Inconsequential as Daniel Ricciardo’s “Fairytale” Ending Becomes Real Possibility

Although there were previous speculations about a possible switch to AlphaTauri, it was later proven to be incorrect. However, it has been reported that Sergio Perez’s contract includes a clause that allows his salary to be adjusted if he falls a certain number of points behind his teammate, Max Verstappen.

Contract Clause and Potential Pay Deduction: Sergio Perez’s Performance Under Scrutiny

According to De Telegraaf, Perez’s deal states that if he falls 125 points or more behind Verstappen, Red Bull has the option to downgrade his multi-million dollar contract. Currently, Perez is exactly 125 points behind Verstappen, which could trigger this clause. Potentially resulting in a deduction in his reported $7.7m salary, along with a $3.3m bonus. While Red Bull can activate this clause soon, the length of the contract is expected to remain until the end of 2024.

The situation highlights a significant performance gap between the two drivers. Verstappen’s streak of eight consecutive victories has coincided with a decline in form from Perez. Also, failing to make it to Q3 in five consecutive Grands Prix. Helmut Marko suggested that Perez had given up on his title aspirations. Sky Sports F1 presenter Karun Chandhok went as far as saying that Red Bull seemed to have “broken” Perez.

Despite showing promising performances earlier in the season, such as in Jeddah and Baku, Perez’s performance has declined since being overtaken in Miami. This downturn in form has led to concerns about his position within the team. Nonetheless, the length of his contract remains unchanged. It appears that Red Bull has not provided any clarifications regarding the content of the contracts.

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