Pressure Mounts on Pérez: Red Bull Speculation Intensifies

Amid retirement rumours, Pérez’s future at Red Bull is under scrutiny, as speculation grows ahead of the Mexico Grand Prix.

Liam Lawson appears to be on track to become Max Verstappen’s new teammate at Red Bull Racing for 2025.

Despite repeated denials from Sergio Pérez, persistent rumours continue to circulate suggesting that the Mexican driver could announce his retirement from Formula 1 during his home race this weekend.

“It’s just a rumour,” said the team’s advisor, Dr Helmut Marko, ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix. “He himself says there’s no truth to it.”

“But we shall see. It’s true he needs to improve his performance.”

“We shall see?” Discussions are reportedly underway between Horner, Marko, and Pérez, aimed at allowing the Mexican to exit Formula 1 with dignity, potentially announcing his retirement rather than facing a mid-contract replacement over the winter or before Abu Dhabi.

This approach would also help maintain positive relations between Red Bull, Pérez, and Mexico, with the possibility of future assurances for the Mexican, such as sponsorship opportunities in other categories or an ambassadorial role.

However, Pérez’s management remains firm, stating that “there is no question of yielding to this pressure at the moment,” and they have not confirmed whether such a scenario is being considered.

Currently, Verstappen leads Lando Norris by 57 points in the drivers’ standings, but Red Bull is at serious risk of falling behind Ferrari and finishing third in the constructors’ championship.

Former F1 driver Ivan Capelli squarely places the blame on Pérez.

“McLaren and Ferrari have two drivers; the others only have one. Pérez is consistently lagging behind at Red Bull, and it’s worth noting that (Oscar) Piastri at McLaren is still struggling to find consistency.”

Honda is pushing for Yuki Tsunoda to be considered as a contender to replace Sergio Pérez next year, but it seems clear that Red Bull is firmly grooming Liam Lawson for the 2024 season.

“They have expectations of me, just as I have expectations of myself,” said Lawson, who has been standing in for Daniel Ricciardo.

“I’m here to do a good job, and I want to be in Formula 1 next year. I’ve got these few races, and they’re incredibly important for me. I managed to perform well in this race, but we’ve still got five crucial races ahead.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised the 22-year-old New Zealander, saying he “drove like a seasoned driver” in Austin, while even Helmut Marko was full of praise.

“Very impressive debut in 2024. It was already evident in Q1, where he set the third-fastest time. He was always in control and made some brilliant overtaking manoeuvres.”

“It shows that you need to put these young drivers in the cars, and then it works. He’s definitely a man for the future.”