Helmut Marko says Red Bull still believes Sergio Perez can “fix” despite widespread reports of a possible driver change with Daniel Ricciardo.
Instead, Marko warned that it is the Australian who is in danger of wasting his task, because decision-makers need VCARB to become part of a “junior team” again.
There has been a lot of talk lately about the Red Bull driver’s situation, with reports initially claiming that Ricciardo’s days were numbered and that Red Bull allegedly intends to promote reserve driver Liam Lawson to their junior team.
With both Red Bull seats signed, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s contract for 2025 would have meant the end of Ricciardo’s time on the grid.
But as Perez had managed just four issues since his last podium in Miami, he then sensationally claimed that Ricciardo’s time with Red Bull was not only not over, but was still in contention to take Perez’s seat after the summer break.
PlanetF1. com understood to be a clause in Perez’s contract that allows for such a demotion, which is said to be due to his problems in the drivers’ championship.
If you have more than a hundred issues with Verstappen when F1 goes into the summer break, they can change it. And when there are two races left, it has 137 numbers.
Their results, or lack thereof, give Red Bull the championship, with McLaren and Mercedes ahead of the Woking team since Perez’s latest champagne celebrations.
But while Marko recognises the importance of the constructors’ championship, he warned that the team is not in a position to throw in the towel on Perez.
“The fact is that the Constructors’ Championship is very vital for the team and for all the workers,” he told F1-Insider. “Because the more we can do this, the more bonuses workers will get. “
“Sergio Pérez has to keep his promises and he is under pressure. “
But even though he’s under pressure, Marko isn’t in a position to drop the ax just yet.
“We hope that Sergio gets down to work. He has already managed to get out of crisis situations several times in the past,” he said.
“Any other driver wouldn’t seem smart about Max either. Max is in the best shape of his life and is getting even better.
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Instead, the 81-year-old singled out Ricciardo and his position in the Red Bull organization.
It turns out there’s a greater chance that Ricciardo will completely lose his education than that he will upgrade Perez.
“It has now been shown through all decision makers that Racing Bull [VCARB] will be a junior team in the future, which basically has educational objectives,” Marko said.
“There are still 3 races left before the summer holidays. Then we go down together and make decisions that go in that direction.
And with that as criteria, Lawson is the clear favorite to marry Yuki Tsunoda next season.
“We probably wouldn’t release him because he will have some other chance with us,” Marko insisted, as Lawson had competed in five races in 2023 when he replaced the injured Ricciardo, who broke his hand in practice for the Dutch GP.
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