Red Bull employee hits out at ‘nuts’ F1 fans over Sergio Perez tequila gift theory

Sergio Perez visited the Red Bull factory at Milton Keynes this week amid overwhelming speculation around his future. The team celebrated Max Verstappen’s fourth successive drivers’ championship win.

After the early rounds, a ‘triple-double’ (three consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles) looked a certainty. Red Bull left China 44 points ahead of Ferrari thanks to four wins and three one-two finishes in five races.

But for Verstappen’s retirement in Australia, the lead would have been even bigger. At that stage, it was unthinkable that they’d eventually slip to third, 77 points off the pace.

That was partly because of the team’s developmental missteps. Red Bull compromised the handling of their car, which meant the near-unbeatable Verstappen went 10 races without a win.

But Perez’s drop-off was far more dramatic. He went from the podium in the midfield.

That may sound exaggerative, but it’s borne out in the stats. Between his last top-five finish of the season in Miami and the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, Perez scored just 51 points, only nine more than Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

Red Bull man rejects ‘bribe’ claims over Sergio Perez tequila gift

Perez brought 2,000 bottles of tequila to Red Bull’s Milton Keynes facility as a gift to staff. The bottles were produced by Patron, one of the Mexican’s partners.

F1 fan @sterling_west24 accused Perez of ‘bribing them with liquor’, suggesting that he was trying to get the team back onside as Christian Horner and Helmut Marko decide whether to replace him. @LsnWsDelivery echoed the ‘bribery’ claim.

Another fan, @calebttaylor, mocked Perez because he thought tequila was the solution after he ‘cost them their bonuses’. This is in reference to the team reportedly losing out on their contractual constructors’ championship incentives.

But one Red Bull employee, @daz0790, insists ‘we’re still getting our bonus’. He hit out at the ‘nuts’ theories he’d read and rejected any notion that Perez had an ulterior motive.

How much Red Bull employees stand to lose because McLaren won constructors’ title

There has been little public sign of anger from staff. One Red Bull simulator driver says the bonuses ‘don’t matter’ in a wider context.

And the aforementioned employee clarified elsewhere that the team will still be rewarded for finishing in the top three. Inevitably, it won’t be as lucrative as the first-place prize.

One journalist claims Red Bull staff will lose 40% of their bonus after dropping down two spots. And there’s no escaping the reality that Perez is largely to blame.

Red Bull are privately hoping that Perez retires so they can avoid a further financial penalty. Given that he’s under contract for 2025, he’s entitled to demand a pay-off should he desire.