The competitive spirit within Formula 1 never wavers, especially when it comes to securing a coveted seat in the leading team. This rings especially true for Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, whose recent surge in form has caught the attention of many, added advisor Helmut Marko. As the 2024 F1 season unfolds, Perez’s appearance will be linked to his chances of landing a contract with Milton Keynes next season.
Helmut Marko, who played a key role in Red Bull’s strategic decisions, highlighted this progression in an interview with Sky Germany, quoted via Crash. net.
“Last year [in Japan] in particular was Sergio’s worst race. Everything came out at that point, so I think that’s particularly satisfying for him. You can see that it can do that. But perhaps it also plays a role in the fact that next year’s contracts are up for grabs.
“Normally we don’t communicate anything about the drivers’ decisions in April. But somehow it all turns out to have come a long way. But it’s still too early for us. We will wait a while before making a decision. “
After his near-victory in qualifying, Perez shared his thoughts on his renewed confidence at the track and attributed the replacement to stronger management of his car’s set-up.
We were betting too much on the car and just driving it around and I think we have a much bigger base now.
“We’re much happier and the weekends are progressing. “
Reflecting on the challenges of the past year, Perez identified the futility of his past strategy, which involved endless tweaks in an effort to improve performance.
“When we got here last year, we were at a level of our season where everything was working. When you’re there, you’re going around in circles.
“Then we found out at the end, towards the end of the year, that it’s better to take a step back and not try to push yourself too the set-up, because then you start to compromise other things.
“I think that’s the case this year. So I feel a lot more comfortable, a lot happier and the confidence is slowly coming back. “
As the season progresses, Perez’s long career with Red Bull remains the subject of much speculation. Still, if his current form is any indication, the Mexican driver makes a compelling case for his position in the team.
Alex Harrington has been a journalist for 8 years, specializing in technology, automotive, and motorsports for newspapers such as Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal, and Newsweek.