F1 News: Marko admits ‘slow’ Perez may be dropped at season’s end (Update)

(GMM) Sergio Perez’s future in Formula 1 is currently “open”, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko admits.

Despite his signing of a new contract for 2025, the Mexican’s race seat has remained in doubt for much of the current season.

Perez, 34, hit a new low with an abysmal grand prix weekend at home last Sunday, but he also spent the weekend fending off suggestions he will be pushed out of Formula 1 at the end of the season.

“No, not at all,” Perez told Sky Deutschland. “I will be here next year to continue to fight for victory.”

However, he is clearly in competition with RB newcomer Liam Lawson for his 2025 race cockpit – even clashing with the young New Zealander on Sunday.

Marko was actually upset with Lawson that the 22-year-old gave Perez ‘the finger’ out on track.

“I shouldn’t have done that, and I apologize for it,” Lawson now says.

“He had nothing better to do than block me for half a lap, trying to ruin my race – that’s why I was angry,” he added. “But that’s no excuse. It’s not who I am and I shouldn’t have done something like that.”

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, however, thinks Red Bull should put Perez out of his misery – immediately.

“Red Bull will make a decision after this weekend,” he said. “There’s just no point anymore – not for either side. The poor guy is under so much pressure. There’s no more joy on his face. This is supposed to be fun.

“But above all, financially, this is a disaster for the team. Next year he won’t drive a single meter in the car anyway,” Schumacher added. “I’m pretty sure of that. I don’t even think he’ll finish the season.

“If they want to do something about Ferrari in the constructors’ championship, they’ll have to do it quickly.”

Marko, however, said he won’t condemn Perez for his poor race pace on Sunday because he had “massive” damage to his floor. “What he showed was not relevant because his car was no longer at the standard it should be at.”

But when asked about Perez’s future at Red Bull, the Austrian answered with a single word: “Open.”

(GMM) Red Bull is clearly contemplating dropping Sergio Perez at the end of the season, according to consultant Dr Helmut Marko.

Both before and after the Mexican driver signed a new contract for 2025 and 2026, Perez’s ongoing place as teammate to Max Verstappen has been under a cloud.

That cloud is now turning gray, as Liam Lawson has replaced Daniel Ricciardo at the junior outfit RB and put in a clear head-to-head with Yuki Tsunoda.

“Perez has a contract for 2025,” Red Bull’s F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko told Sky Deutschland at the US GP.

“If he delivers with performance, that will not be called into question. But Formula 1 is a competitive sport, which is why Daniel Ricciardo was also replaced.”

Perez, 34, upped his game recently – as Verstappen struggled with the less competitive 2024 car. But now that the car has improved again, the gap has once again widened.

“Checo made up one place,” Marko said after the Austin sprint race. “That’s not really what we expected.

“The gap to Max was also quite big in terms of lap time,” added the 81-year-old Austrian.

As for the returning rookie Lawson, and the RB incumbent Tsunoda, Marko was more enthusiastic.

“Yuki fought really well against the Haas drivers, but in the end he had no chance, because they were much faster on the straights,” he said, amid reports Honda is pushing hard for Tsunoda to be promoted to Red Bull Racing for 2025.

As for 22-year-old New Zealander Lawson, “He was very good from the practice session,” Marko surmised. “He was on par with Tsunoda or even faster.

“He had a problem with track limits, but his performance was flawless, especially when you consider that it is his first time on this circuit. It’s also the first time in a long time that he is back in the car.

“You could say it has been a success so far,” Marko told Servus TV.

Lawson even managed to ruffle the feathers of F1 veteran Fernando Alonso, who called the youngster an “idiot” after a wheel-to-wheel battle.

“A bit too much action, for sure,” Alonso told reporters afterwards. “He has six races to prove a lot, but it’s certainly not the best approach that he’s taking. But hey, it’s his career that’s at stake, not mine.”

Marko said Lawson’s competitive and feisty return to the F1 grid “shows again that you have to give young people a chance”.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher agreed: “If he continues like this, he will be Verstappen’s teammate.”