Is Sergio Perez’s seat in danger for the future?

Sergio Perez’s contract runs until 2024. The Mexican driver may not be renewed by Red Bull considering his recent results. The 33-year-old driver and teammate of Max Verstappen is going through a challenging period as a driver. His number 11 car has not made it to Q3 in the past four Grand Prix races. Prior to his third place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix, the direct competitor of the double world champion had not been on the podium since Miami.

In recent Grand Prix races, a question is starting to emerge among fans of the Austrian team: who could replace Sergio Perez? Several solutions could be considered by the energy drink company.

A return from Daniel Ricciardo?

The reserve driver of Red Bull could be the best solution at the moment. Daniel Ricciardo has had many successes with the Austrian team. The Australian has even been a teammate of the team’s flagship pilot, Max Verstappen. He is also the most experienced option for Red Bull. The 34-year-old driver has started 232 Grand Prix races and has stood on the podium eight times, including seven times with Red Bull, in first place.

Yuki Tsunoda from AlphaTauri to Red Bull?

Promoted as the lead driver for the AlphaTauri team after Pierre Gasly’s departure to Alpine, the Japanese driver is making a strong impression. Red Bull’s sister team is at the bottom of the championship with only 2 points, all collected by Yuki Tsunoda. Since the start of the season, the driver with 43 Formula 1 races has been outperforming his teammate Nyck de Vries.

For now, the Japanese driver is not considering being Perez’s future replacement. Checo has a contract for next year, and I suppose Red Bull is happy with him. So, for now, I just have to focus on myself and show my worth. I think time will tell, anyway. It’s good to stay with AlphaTauri and show my performances to all the teams, said the number 22 in an interview for GiveMeSport.

Are Red Bull academy drivers options?

Another option for the team run by Christian Horner could come from within their own young drivers.

Liam Lawson, the New Zealand driver, is a reserve driver alongside Daniel Ricciardo. In addition to being a reserve for Red Bull and AlphaTauri, the 21-year-old driver is currently racing in the Super Formula.

In Formula 2, Ayumu Iwasa is also a driver of the Austrian academy. The Japanese driver has been nurtured by Red Bull since the 2021 season and is currently in 3rd place in the championship.

Denis Auger could also interest Red Bull. The Norwegian, Formula 3 champion in 2021, currently holds 6th place in the F2 championship. He has been racing under the colors of the Red Bull Academy since 2018. At just 20 years old, he could be the future of the Austrian team.

Finally, American Jack Crawford, Frenchman Isack Hadjar, or Brazilian Enzo Fittipaldi could be contenders for Formula 1, if a seat were to become available.

Red Bull could keep Perez?

The real option for Red Bull would be to retain Sergio Perez. The Mexican, who joined the Austrian team in 2021, is probably the best available driver for Red Bull. With his defense during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, he greatly contributed to Verstappen’s title.

The native of Guadalajara is very experienced, with 237 starts to his name. For Christian Horner’s team, keeping Checo Perez is a sign of stability and retaining a consistent and fast driver when he is in a good period.