Crimson Bull staff principal Christian Horner’s responses over Sergio Perez’s future modified noticeably within the wake of the Qatar Grand Prix, the place the staff’s hopes of profitable a 3rd consecutive constructors’ championship ended.
Beforehand Horner was at pains to emphasize Crimson Bull’s religion in Perez’s capacity to show his dire season round. However final evening his phrases carried unmistakeable overtones {that a} parting of how is imminent.
“We’re going to provide him all of the assist that we will to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi subsequent weekend,” mentioned Horner. “And what he decides to do, that shall be his determination on the finish of the day.”
Horner referred to the position Perez performed in serving to the staff win the final two constructors’ championships. Nevertheless such was the staff’s benefit final yr that Max Verstappen single-handedly scored sufficient factors to ensure them the title, and Perez should shoulder a major quantity of the blame for his or her defeat this yr.
Perez has scored so poorly that whereas his staff mate clinched the drivers’ title two races in the past, Crimson Bull will go to the season finale unable to win the constructors’ title.
This situation hasn’t occurred since 1982, and it took some excessive circumstances for that to occur. Whereas Keke Rosberg received the drivers’ title for Williams, the staff’s second automobile rotated between three completely different drivers, and contributed simply 24% of their factors whole. Nonetheless, that’s little worse than Perez’s 26%.
However the brand new deal Crimson Bull handed Perez earlier this yr, motorsport guide Helmut Marko not too long ago mentioned the staff’s shareholders will take into account Perez’s future after the season ends. They’re prone to take a dim view of their failure to ship each titles when Verstappen is 80 factors forward within the drivers’ standings.
Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and
But when the writing is lastly on the wall for Perez, Crimson Bull’s alternative of his substitute is much less apparent. Daniel Ricciardo was clearly being eyed as a possible substitute once they rehired him slightly below two years in the past, however that didn’t work out.
That leaves three doubtless choices on the desk for Crimson Bull – and potential penalties for his or her junior staff, to not point out their departing driver.
Lawson: One other fast promotion to Crimson Bull?
Liam Lawson chalked up his tenth grand prix begin final weekend for Crimson Bull’s second staff. He made all these begins alongside Yuki Tsunoda, and although he hasn’t blown away his extra skilled staff mate, he has proven promising tempo given his lack of expertise.
Final yr, handed his grand prix debut at brief discover, Lawson acquitted himself fantastically on a moist monitor and Zandvoort. He went on to say a factors end at Singapore, delivering the staff’s greatest results of the season on the time. Lawson scored instantly on his return this yr and continued to acquit himself nicely on largely unfamiliar tracks.
Though Lawson will solely have began 11 grands prix by the tip of the season, a scarcity of skilled hasn’t deterred Crimson Bull previously. Alexander Albon was ushered into the highest staff after simply 12 races in 2019.
Tsunoda: His likelihood ultimately?
Nearing the tip of his fourth yr at RB (previously AlphaTauri), Tsunoda’s place within the staff subsequent yr has already been confirmed. Nevertheless Crimson Bull by no means appear to have been notably keen about selling him additional. It took him some time to get on phrases with Pierre Gasly, who was relegated to their junior squad after simply half a season in 2019.
Nevertheless Crimson Bull have organized to run Tsunoda in one in every of their vehicles in post-season testing. This may very well be his final, greatest likelihood to persuade the staff he deserves a seat.
Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and
Colapinto: Outsider’s hopes fading?
Franco Colapinto made an attention-grabbing debut for Williams when the staff misplaced affected person with Logan Sargeant after the Dutch Gran Prix. After a peaceful debut at Monza he rose above the chaos in Baku to take an outstanding eighth – forward of Lewis Hamilton, no much less – and added one other level at Austin.
As each Williams seats are occupied subsequent yr, rumours unfold that Colapinto may discover his method into Crimson Bull’s operation at some degree. That hypothesis cooled following Colapinto’s crashes at Interlagos and Las Vegas.
RB: Which junior is subsequent?
Any driver motion additional up the Crimson Bull operation is prone to have an impact downstream at RB. But when they discover themselves with a emptiness to plug, will Crimson Bull go for Colapinto, or one in every of its many juniors?
Isack Hadjar has given an excellent account of himself in Components 2 this yr. He’s simply half a degree off the championship lead, regardless of having some awful luck at instances. He has additionally racked up a helpful quantity of F1 apply classes appearances.
Japanese Tremendous Components racer Ayumu Iwasa may additionally be a candidate. Nevertheless he didn’t have as sturdy a yr within the collection as Lawson did final yr, ending the season a win-less fifth whereas his Crimson Bull predecessor took a trio of victories and solely missed the title by eight factors.
Perez: The tip of the road?
Previous to final weekend’s race, Perez dismissed strategies Crimson Bull may relegate him to RB subsequent yr. Provided that, he isn’t going to discover a seat on the F1 grid in 2025.
A return additional down the road just isn’t unimaginable, nevertheless. Cadillac’s anticipated arrival in 2026 will open up two extra seats, and with over 280 begins to his title Perez would convey an enviable quantity of expertise. Nevertheless robust current years has been, he has proved himself a succesful staff chief previously, notably when he took Racing Level to their sole victory in 2020.
No matter occurs, if that is to be Perez’s closing F1 drive for the foreseeable future this weekend, hopefully he will get the prospect to acknowledge it, not like Ricciardo’s poorly-handled exit on the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this yr.
Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a each day e mail with all our newest tales – and nothing else. No advertising and marketing, no advertisements. Join right here:
2024 Qatar Grand Prix
Browse all 2024 Qatar Grand Prix articles
