Tom Coronel issues warning to 91-point F1 driver who he would replace Sergio Perez with at Red Bull

With Max Verstappen confirming his fourth consecutive world championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the attention at Red Bul will now certainly focus on the future of his teammate Sergio Perez.

The Mexican is under immense pressure to keep his seat with the team as he is enduring his worst season with the Milton Keynes-based outfit since he joined in 2021.

Perez had been struggling long before the 2024 season – he barely managed to finish second in the drivers’ championship last season behind Verstappen. But the 34-year-old’s difficulties have been made very much apparent this season.

With two races to go, Perez has not finished on the podium since the Chinese Grand Prix or the top five since Miami. In the last six events, he has finished higher than 10th once as he struggled to beat Red Bull’s junior team RB and their drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson.

Despite having a contract until at least the 2026 season, Perez could be replaced before 2025 as potential clauses in his deal could allow Red Bull to let him go after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Danica Patrick says it’s time for Perez to retire after this season, which would leave Red Bull needing to find a replacement, with several drivers being linked to the team. Jenson Button ‘would love’ to see Tsunoda replace Perez after displaying some impressive performances in 2024.

Tom Coronel issues career warning to Yuki Tsunoda who he would replace Sergio Perez with at Red Bull

Dutch pundit Tom Coronel echoed the same feelings as he too would put Tsunoda – who has grabbed 91 points in F1 so far – in the second Red Bull. But he issued a warning to the Japanese driver about his career if he is chosen to partner Verstappen.

After Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull In 2019, Verstappen’s teammates have failed to get anywhere near the Dutchman and were subsequently shown the door, with the likes of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon suffering this fate.

Red Bull are notorious for making brutal decisions on their drivers and Perez could be next. As history has shown, the Mexican’s replacement will likely struggle to be competitive in comparison to Verstappen.

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With Coronel tipping Tsunoda for the seat, he warned the Japanese driver that he cannot ‘make a career’ as Verstappen’s teammate as the Dutchman is ‘just superior’ in the team.

“Yes, I think they should look in their own pool. It won’t be easy, I think it is very difficult, very difficult because Perez is not a pancake, but Max is just superior,” he said via racexpress.

“I don’t think you want to be or can be Max’s teammate if you want to make a career. But if you going to look at the pool anyway, I would put our Yuki in it, yeah, he has the most experience.”

Liam Lawson is also an option for Red Bull to replace Sergio Perez

As the 2024 season nears its conclusion, it seems more likely than ever that Perez will be replaced come 2025. But it appears that Red Bull are still uncertain on what to do with the Mexican, or who to replace him with.

Despite having been with RB since 2021 – when they ran under their AlphaTauri name – Red Bull have a ‘fundamental problem’ with Tsunoda as he is a Honda-backed driver and is therefore said to not be under consideration for a promotion.

The Japanese driver’s teammate Liam Lawson is being heavily linked with Red Bull as the Kiwi driver has displayed some impressive performances in place of Ricciardo. But Lawson is still inexperienced as he has yet to complete a full season in F1.

Isack Hadjar could be moved to RB if Lawson replaces Perez, but the Frenchman’s future is banking on the Mexican leaving Red Bull as there are a number of drivers ahead of him in the pecking order. Franco Colapinto is also a target for Red Bull, with Williams not having a seat for him in 2025.