Red Bull and their second driver situation have proved to be tricky in recent years. Many have criticized their decision to let go of talented drivers in the past. They have also been longing for stability in their driver lineup, and with Sergio Perez, they might have found one.
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The Mexican is undoubtedly a great talent. He debuted in Formula 1 back in 2011 and has been progressing ever since, moving up the ladder each year. However, he had an inconsistent debut season with Red Bull, which has raised questions on whether they should look at other options.
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With his contract ending in 2022, and Pierre Gasly’s stunning season with AlphaTauri, Perez’s seat for next season is a question mark. Nevertheless, he has started the 2022 season in a solid fashion, securing consecutive P2 finishes and gathering valuable points for the team. Helmut Marko revealed that the decision on his contract will be taken before the summer break.
Sergio Perez’s fate will be decided by the summer break
Sergio Perez performed a masterful drive in the 2022 Australian Grand Prix after Max Verstappen retired due to fuel leakage. By stepping up and producing a solid result in Australia and Imola, Perez proved Red Bull could count him on when it matters. And in his second year with the Milton-Keynes outfit, the Mexican driver has helped propel the team back to championship contention.
Helmut Marko revealed that the Mexican’s contract situation will be solved by the summer break. Pierre Gasly is also in contention to come back in Red Bull colors. “We will make a decision before the summer break on who will be Max’s teammate in 2023. Pierre has a contract with us until the end of 2023, so we still have some time. As always, at Red Bull it’s about their performance.” said the Austrian.
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So far, Perez has played the support role to perfection. With such convincing performances, many believe the contract extension is only a matter of time. After an impressive result in Imola, Marko added, “We’ve never had someone like it.”
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The 32-year-old, however, will look to focus on the upcoming races. With Miami on the schedule next, Red Bull will try to carry their momentum in their hopes to catch runaway leaders Ferrari.
With Perez and Verstappen, they have got two drivers who are capable of taking Red Bull to the ultimate prize. Can Red Bull overcome Ferrari’s challenge? We will have to wait and watch.