Günther Steiner believes Red Bull should reconsider Sergio Pérez’s place in the team, suggesting Yuki Tsunoda as a more fitting partner for Max Verstappen.
Günther Steiner does not believe Sergio Pérez is still the right man for Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. According to the former Haas F1 team principal, the Mexican driver is no longer bringing in enough points, rendering the Red Bull duo weaker than those of Ferrari and McLaren.
“If you look at Checo’s points compared to his teammate’s percentage-wise and compare it to the other teams, they are better prepared with their drivers. It’s clear that Checo isn’t a bad driver, but the others are closer to each other,” notes Steiner.
The Italian questions why Red Bull, which no longer overwhelmingly dominates F1 today, has not opted for another driver: “It’s one of those questions I sometimes ask myself. Why not give another driver a chance?
“Tsunoda is doing a fantastic job within the RB team. I think he’s doing a fantastic job. It seems Pérez will be retained for next year, but there are options like Sainz. Albon was in the running, but no longer is as he signed with Williams.”
“Perhaps this attitude changes because there is no longer a dominant car, and you need both drivers to score points. The other two teams they’re fighting this year, Carlos and Leclerc, and McLaren with Piastri, who finished second in Monte Carlo, and Norris, don’t need to be questioned.”
“So maybe something is changing in Red Bull’s way of thinking, but apart from Carlos, I don’t think there are many choices on the market.”
“Not a decline” but Red Bull is under pressure.
Steiner does not yet believe Red Bull is truly in a phase of decline, but he is convinced that the situation will become increasingly challenging for the reigning world champions.
“I wouldn’t talk about a decline of Red Bull because I think it’s a case of the others catching up. I don’t think they’re getting slower or worse; it’s just that the others are closing the gap. Obviously, now that Red Bull is being challenged, they have to take more risks, they’re more on edge, and they’re making more mistakes.”
“It’s like in life in general; when you’re being chased, it’s easier to make a mistake. But when you’re on the field and everything is going well, even if I make a mistake, it’s still fine. Now, I think it’s more difficult, and they will make mistakes, there will be issues with the car, and they will have to work harder.”
“I don’t think it’s a decline. The other teams have caught up. If you hope that someone, particularly Red Bull, will start to slow down, I don’t think that will happen. It won’t happen. But the other teams are good, and they have caught up.”
Tsunoda Deserves Shot, Says Steiner. Tsunoda Deserves Shot, Says Steiner
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