Red Bull Racing had another mixed result at the Qatar Grand Prix that has summed up their season.
Max Verstappen managed to secure his ninth win of the season in Lusail with an expert drive from the front row of the grid.
Red Bull watched on as Verstappen took the lead of the race from George Russell going into the first corner after his one-place demotion following qualifying.
Verstappen was furious with Russell for the role he played in his penalty but made sure he came away with another 25 points to add to his tally after securing his fourth world championship at the previous race in Las Vegas.
In stark contrast, Sergio Perez had to watch the closing stages of the Qatar Grand Prix from the Red Bull garage.
Perez had to write off the Sprint Race following his disappointing Q1 exit.
He managed to reach the top-10 shootout for Sunday’s race, but could only qualify ninth, setting a time nearly a second slower than his teammate.
Perez was running in the top five of the race before he spun off under the safety car during the second half of the Grand Prix.
Jolyon Palmer on Channel 4 suggested that it was a ‘driver error’ rather than a technical fault for Perez.
Meanwhile, team principal Christian Horner simply said on Instagram that Red Bull ‘unfortunately had to retire’ Perez’s car.
A report from ESPN now suggests that a decision has already been made on whether Perez will be on the grid next year.
Sergio Perez set to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season
The report suggests that Perez will be leaving Red Bull once the season concludes in Abu Dhabi.
That’s according to ‘multiple sources’ with knowledge of the situation within the third-place team in the Constructors’ Championship.
A meeting is set to take place between Red Bull stakeholders on the Monday after the race in the United Arab Emirates where Perez’s future is one of the subjects being discussed.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname
However, Horner and Helmut Marko may have already made their mind up on what to do next with the 34-year-old.
Perez has been offered an ambassadorial role at Red Bull but whether he wants to take it up is another matter.
Horner wants Perez to make up his own mind on his F1 future, but whether he gets that chance is another matter.
Is this the end for Sergio Perez in Formula 1?
The report continues to say that Perez’s Red Bull prevents the team from sacking him as his current deal technically runs until the end of next season.
However, it does give them the flexibility to move him into a new role within the organisation.
Perez would also make sense as an option for Cadillac in 2026 when they enter F1 given his experience and financial backing.
It means that Liam Lawson is going to be the likely replacement for Perez at Red Bull just 10 races into his F1 career.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links
That leaves RB with a dilemma as to who will replace the Kiwi in 2025.
Isack Hadjar is an option for RB, while Franco Colapinto remains an option given he doesn’t have a seat at Williams next season.
Perez has been confident that he’ll be on the grid next year throughout the season, even when his performances haven’t been up to scratch.
Unfortunately, his chances of staying at Red Bull may just have been taken out of his hands.
Leave feedback about this