Today Red Bull are celebrating their 20th year in Formula 1 with a special event at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Max Verstappen has been joined by team mate Sergio Perez plus RB drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda among others as they celebrate two decades of competition during which they’ve won the constructors’ championship six times.
But despite its strong start to 2024 the team is concerned the championship could slip away from them this year. McLaren have consistently chipped into their lead over the past half-dozen races.
There’s no mystery about which half of Red Bull’s driver pairing is failing to deliver. Over the past six races Perez has scored just 15 points – less even that Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg.
Red Bull extended Perez’s contract to drive for them a month and a half ago. But team principal Christian Horner admitted that weekend that Perez’s poor contributions to their points tally is not a sustainable situation. But the best solution to that problem is far from clear-cut.
Stick with Perez
Although Perez’s results have been poor of late, he reached the podium four times in the first five races. The temptation to stick with him in the hope he can suddenly rediscover his lost form – and avoid the humiliation of dropping a driver Red Bull re-signed mere weeks ago – will be strong.
But as Horner acknowledged, Perez is aware of the pressure he faces, and that is rarely something which helps a driver produce their best.
“Of course Checo is under pressure,” Horner told media including RaceFans at Silverstone. “That’s normal in Formula 1 and when you’re under-delivering that pressure only amounts. And he’s aware of that, he knows that.”
“He knows it’s unsustainable to not be scoring points,” Horner added. “We have to be scoring points with that car and he knows that. He knows his role and his target and so nobody is more eager than Checo to get back.”
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Promote Tsunoda
Ordinarily the most obvious candidate for promotion to Red Bull would be whichever driver is performing best at their junior team RB. Yuki Tsunoda, 12th in the championship on 20 points, would seem to be a likely solution.
“Yuki’s a Red Bull Racing driver, he’s on a Red Bull Racing contract and signed him because he’s been performing well,” said Horner. “So we’re very aware of his performances.”
However Red Bull’s commitment to the 24-year-old, now in his fourth season at their junior squad, has always seemed lukewarm. Question marks remain over his temperament, though he has tried to rein in his tendency to mouth off on the radio. Despite his many years with their backing, Tsunoda is yet to test for the senior team. “You never know, maybe he’ll get a test one day,” said Horner when asked about his prospects last week.
Horner’s assessment of Tsunoda’s chances of a promotion was not exactly a ringing endorsement. “You can never rule anything out,” he said. “Yuki, we have options for multiple years on him because we believe that he’s a talent.”
Promote Ricciardo
Red Bull’s preferred replacement for Perez would surely have been Daniel Ricciardo following his return to the team last year. However despite occasional flashes of his old form he is yet to prove he can consistently perform at a high level.
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At present Ricciardo is the only Red Bull-backed driver on the grid yet to firm up his plans for next year. Even so, Perez’s performances have been so underwhelming of late Red Bull may yet decide to give him a chance in the seat Ricciardo voluntarily relinquished at the end of 2018.
Promote Lawson
Horner was quick to cool suggestions that Liam Lawson’s planned run in one of the team’s cars last week was a dress rehearsal for a promotion. “The Liam test is an aero run, it’s been planned for months now,” he said.
However Lawson acquitted himself well when he was called up to drive for AlphaTauri (now RB) last year, and gave Tsunoda a run for his money. Whether Red Bull were impressed enough to consider putting him in the senior team remains to be seen.
Promote Hadjar
Red Bull’s junior driver Isack Hadjar took the lead of the Formula 2 standings last weekend. He has been a consistently strong performer this year, albeit dogged by various technical problems and misfortunes.
He has already driven for Red Bull in practice sessions, including at Silverstone last week. A sudden promotion to the top team still seems unlikely, but Red Bull have been unafraid to make surprise calls like this in the past.
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I say
It feels like Red Bull have painted themselves into a corner by letting some of the more promising talents from their junior roster go over the years – notably Carlos Sainz Jnr – not to mention the hasty decision to extend Perez’s contract earlier this year.
But Perez’s performances have tailed off so badly of late it almost doesn’t matter what Red Bull do at this point, they just need to try something. The occupant of the second car is unlikely to have much of an effect upon Verstappen’s pursuit of the drivers’ title.
All they need is a safe pair of hands to gather points. That calls for experience and so, notwithstanding his indifferent performances so far this year, Ricciardo may still be their best option.
You say
Should Red Bull replace Perez immediately – and if so, with who? Cast your vote below and have your say in the comments.
Who is Red Bull’s best solution for its Perez problem – right now?
- No opinion (0%)
- Promote someone else (0%)
- Promote Hadjar (0%)
- Promote Lawson (25%)
- Promote Ricciaerdo (50%)
- Promote Tsunoda (25%)
- Stick with Perez (0%)
Total Voters: 4
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