Sergio Perez’s qualifying woes have once again attracted criticism, with former Red Bull driver Mark Webber joining the chorus of disapproval.
Despite having the most dominant car on the grid, Perez has struggled in recent races, failing to make it into Q3 for the fifth consecutive time at the British Grand Prix.
While he showcases his racecraft by making his way through the field during the races, his qualifying struggles continue to raise serious questions about his performance.
Despite Perez’s impressive ability to gain positions during races, Webber delivered a stinging barb, saying, “Anyone can gain positions in the races.
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“Even I can do that, even though I’m an old fart now.”
He emphasised that Perez needs to address his qualifying issues and perform consistently in all conditions at this level of competition.
Perez’s ongoing struggles have fuelled rumours of Daniel Ricciardo potentially replacing him as Max Verstappen’s teammate.
The calls for Ricciardo’s return have grown louder with each race, especially as Verstappen continues to dominate, securing his sixth consecutive race win at the British Grand Prix.
Ricciardo himself expressed his desire to be at Red Bull, stating, “The truth is that this is where I want to be. I’m not going to beat around the bush.”
While a Ricciardo comeback seems possible, it is more likely that he would join Red Bull’s partner team, AlphaTauri.
READ: Daniel Ricciardo opens up on F1 future as Sergio Perez to be sacked
Rookie driver Nyck De Vries, who currently sits in equal 19th place for AlphaTauri and has yet to score a point in the 2023 season, reportedly faces increased pressure.
According to Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz, De Vries has been given a four-race ultimatum to turn his season around.
Failure to do so could result in Liam Lawson taking his place, as rumoured in the Dutch press. Franz Tost, team principal of AlphaTauri, stated that it is up to De Vries to dispel these rumors by delivering strong performances in the upcoming races.