Sergio Perez produced another dismal showing in qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint. The Red Bull driver was knocked out in SQ1.
It’s the third time this year that Perez has failed to reach SQ3. And it’s also his second consecutive exit in the first segment of qualifying after the Las Vegas GP.
The Mexican is clearly at a loss as to why he’s struggling at virtually every race weekend. If there was a solution, he or Red Bull would surely have identified it by now.
He’s only finished in the top six once since the Miami GP at the start of May. While that partly reflects Red Bull’s drop-off, Max Verstappen has maintained a 100% top-six record in the same period while defending his world championship.
The Dutchman has opened up a gap of more than 250 points over his teammate with two rounds to go. Last season’s 290-point deficit was a record, but Perez could yet make more unwanted history this term.
Sergio Perez examines Max Verstappen’s Red Bull car before Qatar Grand Prix Sprint
Motorsport Magazine journalist Christian Menath was stationed outside the Red Bull garage before the Sprint, and he witnessed some ‘strange scenes’. Perez took a ‘close look’ at his own car and then walked across to the other side to ‘compare it’ to Verstappen’s RB20.
There have been points this year where his teammate has been running a superior specification. For instance, he received Red Bull’s full US Grand Prix upgrade package first.
If there was a material, lasting difference between the two cars, Red Bull would likely admit it. They’ve openly stated that Verstappen is the priority – understandably so – and it would also offer them an easier explanation for Perez’s struggles.
The 34-year-old failed to make any impression in the Sprint. Red Bull chose to start him from the pitlane so they could experiment, but he came home 20th after a mid-race pit stop and front-wing change.
Red Bull brutally shut down 2025 Sergio Perez merchandise rumour
Perez partly blamed Charles Leclerc for his SQ1 exit on Friday. Both drivers were fighting over the same piece of tarmac as they tried to set a lap.
Replays showed that both drivers were clearly compromised. But equally, Red Bull might say that he should have set a more competitive time earlier.
Even though he’s signed a new contract for 2025, he’s at risk of losing his seat. There will be a meeting after the Abu Dhabi GP to make a decision on Verstappen’s teammate.
One outlet has claimed Perez has received the green light to produce merchandise for next year. But Red Bull have brutally shut down the rumours.
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