The longest Formula 1 season in history comes to an end in just a few weeks, but there’s still a gruelling triple-header of races for Red Bull Racing and Sergio Perez to navigate.
Red Bull know they might be celebrating another championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix if results go their way.
Max Verstappen knows that a win guarantees him a fourth straight Drivers’ Championship.
While Charles Leclerc has been tipped to win in Las Vegas, the Dutchman doesn’t even need to win to secure the title, simply finishing ahead of rival Lando Norris would be enough to set up an exciting evening of celebrations in Sin City.
| Max Verstappen wins the championship if… |
| Verstappen finishes ahead of Norris in any position |
| Norris finishes 2nd (18 points) and Verstappen finishes 3rd with the fastest lap (16 points) |
| Norris finishes 3rd (15 points) and Verstappen finishes 4th with the fastest lap (13 points) |
| Norris finishes 4th without the fastest lap (12 points) and Verstappen finishes 5th (10 points) |
| Norris finishes 5th without the fastest lap (10 points) and Verstappen finishes 6th (8 points) |
| Norris finishes 6th without the fastest lap (8 points) and Verstappen finishes 7th (6 points) |
| Norris finishes 7th without the fastest lap (6 points) and Verstappen finishes 8th (4 points) |
| Norris finishes 8th without the fastest lap (4 points) and Verstappen finishes 9th (2 points) |
| Norris finishes 9th without the fastest lap or lower (2 points or fewer) |
However, on the other side of the Red Bull garage, there is much less to be happy about.
It’s been a very tricky season for Sergio Perez and he currently sits 8th in the championship.
Considering the lead his teammate has built in the standings and the 242-point deficit Perez has to Verstappen, understandably questions have been asked about the Mexican’s future.
Helmut Marko is one man who will have a big say in whether Perez stays or goes at the end of the year.
Perez has a contract that runs until at least the end of 2025 and could be extended by a further season if Red Bull desire.
In an interview with OE24, Marko addressed Perez’s future and what could happen during the winter break.
Helmut Marko reacts to being asked about Sergio Perez’s Red Bull future
Red Bull parting ways with Perez would be expensive and in an ideal world, the Mexican’s form would pick up over the final three races and keeping him for 2025 would be a no-brainer.
However, Red Bull have a 49-point gap they need to overcome during the final three race weekends to retain their Constructors’ Championship crown.
| Position | Constructors’ Standings | Points |
| 1 |
McLaren Racing |
593 |
| 2 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
557 |
| 3 |
Red Bull Racing |
544 |
While it wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone to see Verstappen standing on the top step of the podium in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, that won’t be enough on his own.
Perez hasn’t recorded a podium since the Sprint Race in Miami, although a late crash with Carlos Sainz in Baku denied him the chance to end that streak.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname
Marko is asked about Perez’s future and whether he will have to leave his seat should Red Bull lose the Constructors’ Championship because of his mistakes.
The Austrian advisor offered little in the way of a reply and said: “We still have three races left, so we should be able to get through them fairly well.
“Maybe it will still work out for us.”
The trio of F1 drivers looking to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull next season
The 34-year-old is well aware that he’s under pressure but has brushed off suggestions that he’s going to lose his seat in the winter.
Perez has laughed at claims he will lose his seat that have been made in the media, although it’s understandable why he would be bullish in this scenario.
Unfortunately for him, Red Bull have shown over the past 20 years in F1 that they’re not afraid to be ruthless when required.
READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko? Everything to know
They also have three drivers on their shortlist who could step up into Perez’s seat for 2025 if required.
Marko has talked about Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull chances although he’s already tied down to another year at RB.
Liam Lawson is on Red Bull’s radar after replacing Daniel Ricciardo following the Singapore Grand Prix and doing a fine job.
Red Bull are also interested in Franco Colapinto and the Argentine would be a real wildcard for the role given his rapid rise at Williams after replacing Logan Sargeant.
Perez is publicly confident that he’s not going anywhere before next season’s opener in Australia, but Marko failed to confirm anything in his latest answer about his future.
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