After a comparatively great start to the 2024 Formula 1 season, Sergio Perez’s problems had started. It just so happens that he had similar difficulties this time last year.
The 34-year-old has discovered that he is not at ease in the RB20, and he and Red Bull lost out on some potentially significant points during qualifying at Imola due to a few errors. Rumors concerning the Mexican’s future with the team after 2024 thus persist.
Perez had a lot to say about the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend, as much had already been said about his performance. However, he brought up a specific point that runs counter to his recent success at other tracks.
Imola is one of the more challenging tracks on the calendar due to its nature.
Following the race, Perez reportedly said a few things concerning the 3.05-mile (4.908-kilometer) road course with 21 turns, according to The Athletic.
“In terms of races, this track is not designed for Formula 1. Our weekend was finished when P11 qualified.”
– Perez Sergio
Imola is similar to a regular street track for Formula 1 cars because of how challenging it is to pass there. To suggest, however, that Imola is unsuited for Formula 1 is obviously overreacting, especially in light of Perez’s accomplishments on other challenging courses, particularly narrow city circuits.
Perez has triumphed in street circuit races in Baku (twice), Monaco, Singapore, and Jeddah in the past few seasons. Actually, all five of his victories with Red Bull have occurred at these types of locations, with Monaco being thought to be the hardest overtaking course on the schedule.
This contradiction truly raises the question of whether Perez was being sincere or if he was just venting after a difficult weekend.
Perez finished in eighth place after finishing no worse than fifth in the season’s first six races, so there was definitely cause for concern on his part. In 2024, he also fell to third place in the driver standings for the first time.
In the winding streets of Monte Carlo, as the Monaco Grand Prix draws near this weekend, Perez will undoubtedly be trying to turn things around. His two most recent appearances in the Principality ended on quite different notes: he finished two laps behind teammate and race winner Max Verstappen in 16th place last year, while he won in 2022.
Sergio Perez has said “everything is still open” regarding his future, but he hopes to finalise his next contract soon as he looks to retain his place at Red Bull.
Perez has addressed the matter directly, but according to a recent report from Fox Sports Mexico, he has been offered a one-year contract extension with the team while he is attempting to secure a two-year agreement.
Sergio Perez provides an update on Red Bull’s future. Thomas Maher has further reporting.
With both RB drivers, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo, confirming their intents to try and become contenders for “senior” Red Bull seats going ahead, Perez stated his intention to try and ensure his future beyond the conclusion of the season as soon as he can.
Christian Horner, the team’s principal, complimented Perez on his season debut but acknowledged that they had a long campaign ahead of them and will decide who will join Max Verstappen next season “when the timing is right.”
With half of the grid expected to be unsigned at the end of the current season, Perez, like many other drivers, is searching for a solution as quickly as feasible.
“Everything is still open because nothing has been signed,” Perez told reporters, including PlanetF1.com, at the Imola racetrack.
“However, I think we’re about to enter a really intense portion of the season, so I want to get it out of the way very soon.
“We believe it’s crucial that I concentrate on the racing side, so hopefully everything can be finalized and shared with you sooner rather than later.”
During an interview, Perez—who is currently in his fourth season with Red Bull—was questioned about the differing outcomes of his predecessors, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, who both struggled to match Verstappen in equal machinery but excelled elsewhere on the grid.
Perez feels that having Verstappen on the opposite side of the garage puts a lot of pressure on him, even though he refrained from commenting on them explicitly.
“I don’t think it’s fair for my side to speak on other drivers, but I believe Red Bull doesn’t work for everyone for a reason,” he remarked.
“Obviously, having Max as a teammate is difficult. I’m positive that [I] would be shining more if I had a different teammate. However, it’s a fantastic challenge right now.
“It’s a pleasure to have a teammate with such qualities; he’s the best driver, extremely thorough, and rarely makes mistakes.”
It definitely pushes the boundaries for my side and pushes you too. I am aware that in order to defeat him, I must have the ideal weekend.
The Mexican was questioned if it is a “distraction” to talk about his future when he is trying to perform on track because this is the last year of his current Red Bull contract.
Even though he was still under contract, he was the subject of scrutiny in the second part of the previous season. However, he noted that until his next contract is signed, which he thinks will happen soon, there is additional stress in the background.
“I believe that in Formula 1, there is constant pressure to perform, even if you haven’t completed a deal. Red Bull in particular creates an extremely high level of pressure,” he said.
“Therefore, nothing changes; it’s just that getting through your sessions can be a little stressful at times because we have a ton of work to do when we return to the simulator on the weekends. However, I think that eventually we will find out and I will know what I’m doing going forward.”
“I think until nothing is signed, everything is an option for now,” he clarified in response to a question about his certainty of staying with Red Bull for the upcoming season.
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