“Don’t Think It’s Just Daniel”: Sergio Perez Takes High Road as He Blurts Out Shocking Facts Amid Rumors of Red Bull Booting

Antonio Perez believes that his son will race for Red Bull for the next 10 years to come. However, if a father’s hopes were enough to keep a seat, Carlos Sainz might have never left the constructor’s junior team. The Austrian Outfit demands desperation and maximum performance. And although Perez is desperate, he is unable to extract the maximum performance of the RB19. To make matters worse, Daniel Ricciardo, in the AlphaTauri, has out-qualified him at his home race. In a cathartic set of events, Sergio Perez has now made peace with speculations.

As the Mexican Grand Prix is progressing towards the last event, louder cheers for the Mexican driver are echoing from the stands. The love pouring in for Perez probably aided him in staying within tenths of a second of Verstappen. However, the recovering Daniel Ricciardo separated the two bulls, qualifying P4 in possibly the worst car on the grid. The sword dangling over Checo’s neck has just been lowered. 

Sergio Perez accepts his fate at the Mexican Grand Prix

Liam Lawson, the Kiwi star of Zandvoort returned to Super Formula League. Despite his F1 valor, his aspirations for the Super Formula championship are fading into the distance. Akin to the championship is his Red Bull dream. However, contrary to the New Zealander, Ricciardo back in F1, is proving himself worthy of the Red Bull seat. Sergio Perez, therefore, has accepted what Red Bull has in the bag for him. 

After a rusted weekend at Austin, Ricciardo showed the Austrian Outfit the desperation they want from their drivers at the Mexican GP. Qualifying ahead of the Mexican driver, he has placed a strong bid for the seat in the main team. In response, Perez said as quoted by RaceFans, “Daniel did a tremendous lap.” He shunned the replacement rumors saying, “And I don’t think it’s just Daniel who wants my seat. Let’s say there are a lot of other drivers who want to be in that seat. And it’s great. If it’s what they deserve, then I’m happy for them.”

Although Perez was looking to return to the front row since the Belgian Grand Prix, his lap time was only good enough to put him in P4 behind Verstappen. However, Ricciardo, in a major twist of events, exerted his dominance over the RB seat dropping Perez to P5. 

READ MORE: “Ready to Kick Some A**”: Daniel Ricciardo Dismisses Glum US GP to Return to Attacking Ways in Mexico

The arguably slowest car on the grid qualifying 4th wasn’t the only shock. The peculiar Mexico City track delivered once again as the front row saw a different pole sitter, 11 races in a row.

The Mexican GP qualifier was a major shocker

After P13 and P15 in the FP3, the Ferrari drivers delivered a major shock to the Mexican crowd. Barely hanging on in Q3, Carlos Sainz put in a lap good enough for P2. Additionally, the teammate of the Spaniard did one better. Charles Leclerc earned himself the 22nd pole of his career. The Outfit found performance when it mattered the most. The prancing horses out-qualified the RB19 of Max Verstappen, the favorite to win at the circuit.

Moreover, in a baffling turn of events, Lando Norris failed to make it out of Q1, qualifying nineteenth on the grid. After four back-to-back podiums, the Brit delivered possibly his worst qualifying after the McLaren updates. His teammate, Oscar Piastri qualified seventh. The two Alfa Romeos found themselves in uncharted territory. Among the top tens, Valtteri Bottas qualified in P9 and Zhou Guanyuu in P10.

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez once again delivered the fans their money’s worth. As the home advantage turns to home pressure, Perez not reaching the podium steps could be detrimental to his future in Formula 1.

WATCH THIS STORY | Will Daniel Ricciardo Get Swapped in for Sergio Perez at Red Bull? 

From dismissing retirement rumors to now holding out an olive branch for uncertainty, do you think the speculation mills about Perez’s future were right all along?