Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 career rests in a very precarious position currently, with no guarantee of a drive for the 2025 season.
His Red Bull contract isn’t likely to mean much after a torrid season, where he has gone 18 races without a podium in a car which has won the drivers’ championship.
As he does with most of his teammates, Max Verstappen has schooled him to the extent that some are even doubting Perez’s credentials in a cockpit – which is wrong.
Perez has just failed to gel with this year’s car, which is geared towards Verstappen’s driving style anyway, and won’t be any easier for the likes of Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda to drive.
Sergio Perez’s lack of ‘confidence’ has amplified Red Bull issues
Being dropped at the end of the year wouldn’t necessarily spell the end of his time in Formula 1, but it would mean he is forced to miss one year at least.
There could be a few options on the table for the new technical regulations in 2026, with a new team in the form of Cadillac arriving, and potential openings at Alpine and Aston Martin.
But, at the age of 34, he isn’t getting any younger or closer to his prime – his experience is his most attractive attribute now.
READ MORE: Red Bull ‘sources’ now say Sergio Perez has changed his mind about his future before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Speaking on the Drive To Wynn podcast, five-time F1 winner John Watson shared what he believes has held Perez back the most this season.
“First of all, I think it illustrates what a difficult car the Red Bull has been, more or less since early-ish in the season,” he said.
“Max has in one form or another, managed it. When the car looked like it had a sniff of a chance or a win, he’s been able to secure it that. If a driver can’t drive a car with confidence if he’s got a fear that the car, and largely it’s to do with the backend of the car.
“If it’s not stable under braking, if it’s not stable at the point of turning in, the only way you can get the car to give you confidence means that the car is probably going to be in lap time, slower than the car that Max is driving,” he continued.
“That’s fundamentally the problem that Perez has. He hasn’t lost the ability to drive a racing car.”
How has Perez cost Red Bull this season?
On average, Verstappen (19.5) has picked up 10 whole points more than Perez (9.5) per race this season in a front-running car.
If Perez had managed to halve that deficit, they would have had enough points to help Red Bull claim the constructors’ title – picking up an extra 100 points at least.
However, they’re going to finish third – matching their worst result since 2015 in a car that has helped Verstappen to a fourth consecutive drivers’ championship by a comfortable margin.
His disappointing performances and inability to keep the car on track are why his position is at risk in the first place.
READ MORE: Alex Jacques says ‘very talented’ driver was never an option to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull
All the six-time winner needed to do was deliver to a mediocre level to keep his seat, with the team willing to back him while he had the blessing of his teammate to stay.
Now it looks like there may be a new sheriff in town for 2025 and beyond, and it’s down to a Visa Cash App RB driver battle to decide it.
