Red Bull is playing a dangerous game. The reigning world champions have designed their cars more inclined to Max Verstappen’s driving style. This not only puts Sergio Perez in relatively uncomfortable territory but also pushes the intra-team performance difference to the point of eventual collapse. The last time F1 witnessed Verstappen-like dominance was Lewis Hamilton‘s in the turbo-hybrid era. But how Mercedes treated their drivers then can provide salvation to Red Bull now, reckons former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya.

“We are finding it harder to find performance”, Perez said ahead of the Canadian GP. Sadly, he proved himself true with a second consecutive DNF three days later, while Verstappen effortlessly cruised to victory. This isn’t a new pattern, but it makes F1 look ‘boring’ with only one driver dominating. Contrastingly, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s neck-and-neck rivalry in and before 2016 might’ve harmed Mercedes on a couple of occasions, but it ensured that competition reigned supreme at the pinnacle of motorsport and they won both championships. Montoya has urged Christian Horner & Co. to emulate this and put Perez on equal footing with Verstappen.

“At Mercedes, there was not a number one car and a number two car,” Montoya told Formule1.nl. “They always managed to show both cars competitively and the best proof is Nico Rosberg, who even became world champion alongside Lewis. And Valtteri Bottas has also won many races. And look, where are they driving now? Have they forgotten how to race? And did Max suddenly learn? Nonsense. Of course, this is just the nature of the sport. But what we essentially want is competition,” the Colombian emphasized, adding, “An intense battle for the title.”

There are two ways Christian Horner can restructure the car to help Perez feel more confident. One, Red Bull can cater their car to the Mexican’s liking and move away from the Verstappen style, which is highly unlikely. Two, they could have different setups for the two cars, but this runs the risk of exceeding budgets and increases the complexities in operation. But, with a genius like Adrian Newey gone, they are more likely to stick to what is working – let Verstappen do his magic and continue to back Perez whenever he falters.

Christian Horner defends “tough racer” Sergio Perez

Like 2023, the Mexican ‘Minister of Defense’ is witnessing a drop in form after the opening few race weekends. The Canadian GP was especially tough for him, as he couldn’t control his RB20 well enough. Another Q1 knockout was followed by a subpar race, which ended with him crashing out. But Christian Horner backed his newly contracted driver once again.

“You see this with Checo time and time again,” Horner said after the Canadian GP. “You think he’s on the ropes and then he bounces back. He’s a tough racer, a tough character. It hurts him more than anyone else and he’ll be determined to come back and show everybody the form we know he’s capable of and the form he showed in the first four races of the year.”

The Spanish GP up next is Sergio Perez‘s best chance at making a turnaround. Red Bull’s RB20 will be back to its best on the Barcelona circuit. If the slump continues, only then does Christina Horner have a conundrum on his hands.