Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has stated that Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull is in doubt, claiming the Mexican’s days at the team “are numbered”
Citing the growing gap in the Drivers’ Standings with Max Verstappen, Schumacher pointed to Perez’s inconsistent performances as the main reason why the team would drop him.
Writing in his Sky column, Schumacher highlighted that Perez’s recent form has been blighted by mistakes and criticism, with another avoidable incident in Hungary.
“The issue with Perez is his inconsistency,” Schumacher said.
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“He has shown too many fluctuations in performance and perhaps lacks the mental stability needed.”
Despite securing two victories for the team this season, Perez has failed to match the pace set by Verstappen, allowing the Dutchman to build a runaway lead in the title race.
“He is simply too far behind Max, and in my view, his time at Red Bull is coming to an end,” Schumacher stated.
Red Bull has been enjoying an record-breaking run of success recently, marking their 12th consecutive victory in Hungary.
However, despite the team leading the sport by a substantial margin, Schumacher believes Red Bull won’t tolerate a large gap in performance between their drivers.
“It’s unfair to put more pressure on [Verstappen],” Schumacher stated.
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“But, looking ahead, as other teams close in, Red Bull cannot afford to have a driver who is significantly slower than the other.”
While Perez managing to grab a podium place in Hungary despite starting from ninth on the grid in, Schumacher believes that this will only buy him a little bit of good will from the team.
The recent return of Daniel Ricciardo to competitive form has ignited speculations about a potential comeback to Red Bull Racing, further adding uncertainty to Perez’s future.