Sergio Perez “Closing In On” New Red Bull F1 Deal in Blow for Carlos Sainz

Sergio Perez is set to renew his contract with Red Bull Racing despite facing recent difficulties, particularly at the Monaco Grand Prix. This decision represents a serious blow to the hopes of Carlos Sainz, who aspired to a possible transfer to the Austrian team.

Troubled performance in Monaco

Sergio Perez’s weekend in Monaco was challenging. The Mexican driver failed to achieve an adequate pace during the event, qualifying in 18th place. Despite moving up two places due to the exclusion of the Haas cars, his race ended prematurely on the first lap after a collision with Kevin Magnussen, which sent him at high speed into the barriers.

That disappointing performance, coupled with a troubled run to eighth place at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, raised doubts about Perez’s continued tenure at Red Bull. However, internal sources claim that the team still considers Perez the best available candidate to be Max Verstappen’s teammate.

The Situation of Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz, currently a Ferrari driver, had been speculated as a possible replacement for Perez at Red Bull. However, Red Bull has informed Sainz that he is not a candidate for the team next year. With that door closed, Sainz now faces a crucial decision about his future: accept an offer from Sauber, which will become Audi’s factory team, or move to Williams.

Perez’s importance to Red Bull

Despite his recent challenges, Sergio Perez has proven to be a valuable driver for Red Bull. Not only does he manage to score on good weekends, he also maintains harmony within the team, something essential for the team to function. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner highlighted the importance of having both cars score points to combat the threats from Ferrari and McLaren in the constructors’ and drivers’ championships.

“We need to make sure we have both cars scoring, as we cannot ignore the threat from Ferrari and McLaren,” said Horner. He also praised Perez’s first six races of the season, where he qualified on the front row and achieved podiums, showing his potential.

Perez’s future at Red Bull

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko indicated the team should have a clear decision on Perez’s future by the Spanish Grand Prix. “I think by Barcelona we should have a clear idea,” said Marko. He confirmed that Perez is in a “good position” to renew his contract.

Impact on the Pilot Market

Sergio Perez’s contract renewal will have major implications for the driver market. With Red Bull out of the question, Carlos Sainz needs to decide between Sauber, which promises a promising future with Audi, or Williams, which offers immediate competitiveness and flexibility for the future.

Perez’s renewal with Red Bull solidifies his position within the team and poses an additional challenge for Sainz, who must now re-evaluate his options in Formula 1. The driver market is in constant motion, and each decision can significantly influence the drivers’ careers involved.