Sergio Perez has endured a difficult last few races in Formula 1, after initially having had a strong start to the 2023 season.
The Mexican came close to taking the championship lead from his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen in Miami, but since then, things have gone downhill for him.
Perez’s poor form in the last three race weekends has even prompted speculation that he could be axed by Red Bull before the end of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
According to former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle, Red Bull Racing will continue to back Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen in order to avoid any “volatility” within their team.
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Despite Perez’s recent struggles, Brundle suggests that Red Bull is unlikely to replace him, aiming to maintain stability in their line-up.
After a strong start to the season, with two victories in the first four races, Perez has endured a series of poor weekends, causing his title hopes to fade dramatically. In contrast, Verstappen has capitalised on Perez’s struggles, securing four consecutive victories and establishing a commanding 69-point lead at the top of the F1 drivers’ championship.
Brundle, in his recent column for Sky F1 following the Canadian Grand Prix, believes that only Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have the ability to challenge Verstappen at the moment. However, he doubts that Red Bull would consider replacing Perez in the near future.
“Perez impressively won two of the first four races this season, with Verstappen finishing second to him each time. However, it has all fallen apart since Max came from ninth on the grid in Miami to comfortably beat pole-sitting Sergio,” Brundle said.
To reverse his fortunes, Brundle suggests that Perez will need to rely on his maturity, experience, and the support of his team and family to regain his form and deliver on his speed and potential.
Brundle also points out that Red Bull’s ideal scenario would be for Perez to consistently finish a close second to Verstappen, occasionally winning when Verstappen faces difficulties.
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However, the challenge lies in the fact that alongside Verstappen’s exceptional speed, young drivers like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon have struggled to shine.
Simultaneously, Red Bull cannot afford to have Perez off form when teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin inevitably close in on them.
Hence, Brundle believes that Red Bull will continue to support Perez throughout the season, recognising the importance of his contribution to the team’s overall success.