Sergio Perez told to “accept the situation” with Red Bull “highly unlikely” to keep him

Sergio Perez has entered the final 12 months of his current Red Bull deal and faces an uphill task in trying to secure another extension after an underwhelming 2023.

Mika Hakkinen holds the belief that Sergio Perez’s tenure as a Red Bull driver will come to an end within the next year, deeming it highly improbable for him to continue with the team.

Although Max Verstappen, his teammate, is firmly established within the team, there are lingering uncertainties surrounding Perez’s future. This is despite Perez experiencing the most successful season of his career thus far, securing a second-place finish in the championship, only trailing behind the champion, Verstappen. However, Perez struggled to fully harness the potential of the dominant RB19 car, in contrast to Verstappen’s exceptional performance.

Throughout the year, Perez accumulated less than half the points achieved by his teammate, a result that will not meet Red Bull’s expectations in 2024 if they encounter stronger competition from their adversaries.

Hakkinen, the double F1 world champion, has expressed concerns about Perez’s future with the team. According to the former McLaren racer, Perez’s best chance of continuing his career with Red Bull is to accept the role of playing second fiddle to Verstappen.

“It’s usually the case that one teammate is slower than the other. In this situation, Perez is slower than Max – it’s been quite evident recently,” shared the Finn with Unibet. “If the slower teammate can accept the situation, communicate effectively with the media and the team, contribute to car development, stay motivated, and remain within three or four tenths of the faster driver, then I don’t see it as a negative thing. I believe it’s an acceptable situation.”

“However, if the teammate starts complaining, accuses the team of providing a subpar car, lacks motivation, and delivers inconsistent results, it becomes detrimental to the team. That’s when changes need to be made.”

“I understand that having a Mexican driver is important for Red Bull. Mexico is a significant market that has its influence. But ultimately, the primary focus is on racing, achieving good results, and advancing car development. Relying solely on one driver is not feasible. It’s crucial to have two drivers performing at a certain level in order to progress the car. Is Perez’s future at Red Bull? I highly doubt it.”

Red Bull has a wide range of options to choose from when it comes to potential replacements. Daniel Ricciardo has expressed his desire to return to his previous seat and is already racing for sister team AlphaTauri. In addition, reserve driver Liam Lawson could step in if Ricciardo’s move becomes a reality.

There are also several external drivers who could be considered for the seat. Lando Norris has been heavily linked to Red Bull for years, as they have previously tried to recruit him from McLaren. Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate, has also been mentioned after an impressive rookie season. Carlos Sainz, whose contract with Ferrari is ending, is another potential option.