‘Last-Minute Policing a Joke’: Sergio Perez Shifts Blame Onto F1 as Helmut Marko Pressures Him to Change Teams

Under the floodlights of the Lusail International Circuit, controversies erupted before the Grand Prix even began. With the new track limits being the bane of drivers’ existence, the harsh conditions were enough for hospitalization. Ironically, the track limits were introduced as a safety measure after Pirelli raised concerns. However, this eleventh-hour change did not sit well with Sergio Perez as he labeled FIA’s decision absurd as he drove over the track limits, accumulating a hefty penalty.

Fifty-one laps were deleted in Qatar which is nowhere close to the eighty-three in Austria. However, the Red Bull driver managed a podium in front of the RB home crowd, whereas in Qatar he finished behind the Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu. The exasperation is evident in the team. As Christian Horner sends no more defense for Perez, Helmut Marko scouts for replacement talent.

After blaming the car, Sergio Perez takes down track limits

Sergio Perez was looking for a strong weekend after the chaos of the Japanese Grand Prix. Yet, the Mexican driver did a repeat of the Austrian Grand Prix qualifying at the Lusail International Circuit. Leaving the track multiple times during the race dropped the Red Bull driver to tenth on the grid. Defending himself he said that he struggled to see the white lines marking the edge of the track.

In one breath Perez claimed he avoided picking up track penalties as much as he could, in the same breath he labeled track limits a joke. He said, “But I also think it was a joke what we ended up doing with the track limits. First of all, I think that it is really bad that we come up with a solution last minute to police it. Then to start giving penalties away.” 

But Helmut Marko is no longer making time for explanations. “You must not forget: I brought Perez into the team back then,” he said to OE24. Agreeing with Gerhard Berger, a former Formula 1 racer from Austria, he suggested Perez would benefit from making a move to a different team. Marko said, “But that’s simply the fate with Verstappen that he’s suffering now. That was already the case with Gasly. From that point of view, Berger’s statement is the right one. Perez needs a change of climate and team.”

READ MORE: Red Bull Takes Bizarre Decision as Sergio Perez Is Forced to Retire Twice at the Japanese GP

The Curious Case of Red Bull and Perez’s future

The energy drink brand racing team emerged as a passion project for Dietrich Mateschitz. And if we know anything about such projects, they are meant to be brutal. From its onus, the team has been raking the top fielders and attracted Formula One greats, such as Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, David Coulthard, and now Max Verstappen. However, surviving the driver culture at Red Bull deserves some kind of recognition at the FIA awards as well.

Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon were also plagued by the track limits in Qatar. The other commonality between the two would be their Red Bull past. They are the survivors of the Verstappen train which now takes down at Sergio Perez’s door. His future is also shrouded in mystery due to the return of the prodigal son of Red Bull and a definite seat for Liam Lawson in 2025. The beloved Honey Badger might have some advice for the Mexican Minister of Defence.

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Sergio Perez could soon be the cause of his own demise from the team. In post-race interviews, if not for track limits, he blames the pace of the car. But that same car aided Max Verstappen to finalize his pole in the shortest sector of Monaco. Perez’s lapse of judgment is to blame. With Marko issuing continuous warnings, the Red Bull seat is getting slightly colder as Sergio Perez slides off it slowly.