Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull Future in Doubt: Can He Outperform Verstappen in the 2024 F1 Season?
As the 2024 Formula 1 season progresses, questions continue to swirl around Sergio “Checo” Pérez and his future with Red Bull Racing. Since joining the team in 2021, Pérez has served as a valuable second driver alongside Max Verstappen, but as the competition intensifies, so do the expectations. With Verstappen’s dominance becoming more pronounced, the spotlight has turned toward Pérez and whether he can meet the high standards of Red Bull.
Red Bull has long been known for its high-performance culture, and Pérez has provided the team with several key moments over the years. However, the bar set by Verstappen, who secured his third consecutive world championship in 2023, is staggeringly high. The Dutch driver has solidified his place as one of the most dominant figures in modern F1, which puts immense pressure on Pérez to keep pace, especially as the team continues to push for both drivers to excel in the Constructors’ Championship.
The Performance Gap
Pérez started his Red Bull career with a victory in the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, quickly proving he could handle the pressure of a top team. His defensive driving, especially in critical races like the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was crucial in Verstappen’s title win that year. Yet, despite these flashes of brilliance, Pérez has struggled to consistently match Verstappen’s pace.
In the 2023 season, the gap between the two drivers widened significantly. While Verstappen was regularly at the front of the grid, Pérez experienced a mix of podium finishes and middling results, leaving him significantly behind in the Drivers’ Championship standings. For Red Bull, which has prided itself on fielding a dominant one-two lineup, Pérez’s inconsistency raises concerns about whether he can remain competitive in 2024.
Pressure from Within and Outside
The competitive nature of Formula 1 means that no driver’s seat is ever truly secure. With young talents constantly emerging, Pérez is under pressure to prove that he can still contribute meaningfully to Red Bull’s championship ambitions. Rumors have surfaced suggesting that Red Bull might explore other options if Pérez doesn’t deliver top-tier results in 2024.
Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, has defended Pérez in the past, citing his experience and ability to perform under pressure. However, the team’s history of quickly moving on from drivers who underperform—such as Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon—serves as a reminder that Pérez must step up his game.
Can Pérez Close the Gap?
The question remains: can Sergio Pérez rise to the challenge and narrow the performance gap with Verstappen? While Pérez has shown his prowess in races where strategy plays a key role, his ability to consistently challenge Verstappen in raw speed and qualifying performance remains a concern.
For Pérez, the 2024 season represents a make-or-break moment. He will need to outperform expectations not just to retain his seat at Red Bull, but to solidify his place among the top drivers in Formula 1. With Red Bull unlikely to wait long for results, every race in the 2024 season will be crucial for Pérez’s future in the sport.
If Pérez can return to the form that earned him his Red Bull seat in the first place, he could yet silence the doubters. Otherwise, his time with the team may come to an abrupt end as Red Bull seeks to maintain its dominance at the top of Formula 1.
