S Poddar
Sergio Perez has been refreshingly honest in his own analysis, suggesting his 2024 Formula 1 campaign to date was a “disaster.” The Mexican driver, whose experience with Red Bull had him losing his rhythm just recently, has witnessed his form drop sharply from a great start for the year. Perez now views the Mexico City Grand Prix as the launching point for making it back on track with his season.
The contrast from Perez’s early-season success to his present woes couldn’t be more striking. He had four podium finishes in the first five races, including a win at Azerbaijan. Since then, his fortunes have simply reversed quite dramatically. Perez has slipped to eighth in the driver standings, trailing all his key rivals from the other top-four teams. His points tally is just 30 percent of his teammate and championship leader, Max Verstappen’s.
Speaking before the Mexican Grand Prix, Perez admitted his frustrations. “I know I’ve had a terrible season, a very difficult one,” he said. “It started really well, but it’s been really, really tough. If I can get a strong result this weekend, it can definitely change my season massively in terms of personal feeling. So I’m really up for it.”
It would seem that Perez’s issues are not over the head of Red Bull. Though he has signed a new two-year deal with the squad earlier in 2023, it has also come to light that his new contract is actually performance-based, and recent form as on the wane has set the grapevine talking about his future at the top Austrian team beyond the end of the 2026 season.
While Perez hasn’t impressed much, Red Bull has stayed almost unchallenged in the Constructors’ Championship. The team has enough of a lead over McLaren and Ferrari to ensure no threat from them, while Verstappen’s steady performances have left him as the one most likely to win the title.
Perez will be eagerly looking forward to the Mexico City Grand Prix with a strong performance awaiting for him-both in the opinion of his home fans and his season resurgence. The win could be a morale-booster at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez and send an imperative message to all critics and set the long-term future of Perez at Red Bull.
Could Franco Colapinto be in the mix at junior squad RB in any Red Bull winter switch-up?
While Perez is unsure for the future at Red Bull, there have been quite a number of rumors about new blood and young talent arriving in the junior program of Red Bull. The next in line will be an emergent Formula 3 driver, Franco Colapinto, who has done very good this season. If Perez cannot get any stable performances out of himself, this may be the right candidate to take his place.
Any possible step for Colapinto, however would depend on variables: firstly, with performances in Formula 3 and, secondly, based on the judgment of Red Bull. The winter break would be a very crucial time as the season of 2024 is coming to an end, and the Austrian-based team might need a clear idea about their choice for the next season.
