Liberty Media has reportedly requested Red Bull to reconsider the future of Sergio Perez. It’s claimed that the F1 owners intervened to prevent Perez’s dismissal due to his massive fan base in Mexico and across South America.
Following a pre-summer break meeting at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes headquarters, the Dutch Telegraph reported that the team has opted to retain Perez despite his recent struggles. This decision by the reigning champions has taken many by surprise.
Checo has been off-color in the last nine races, which has hampered Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship run to a large extent. His recent P8 finish (later upgraded to P7) in Belgium, from a starting position of second, sparked intense speculation about his future, and paddock chatters suggested that it was the end of the road for him at Red Bull.
Amidst the uncertainty, a surprising new development has emerged involving Liberty Media’s influence on the situation.
The report, as per F1- insider, said,
“What was leaked behind the scenes: Formula 1 rights holder Liberty Media asked Red Bull to reconsider Perez’s dismissal. Without the popular hero Perez, they feared an extreme drop in revenue at the Mexican GP on 27 October.”
Notably, Perez’s immense popularity in Mexico has significantly boosted Formula 1’s presence in the country. Additionally, Red Bull heavily relies on his star power to expand its influence across the South American region.
However, neither Red Bull nor Liberty Media have publicly commented on these claims. For now, Perez is set to remain Verstappen’s teammate, at least until the end of this season.
Former Dutch driver feels Sergio Perez’s retention is unbelievable
Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen. Source: Getty Images
If reports are to be believed, Sergio Perez is likely to remain at Red Bull for the rest of the season. However, former Red Bull driver Giedo van der Garde is unhappy with the team’s decision. The 39-year-old feels that the move sends a negative message about the team’s performance standards.
“I find it unbelievable,” van der Garde told the DRS podcast. “I think it is a choice that is not Red Bull-like. Red Bull never gives someone such a long chance if they do not perform.”“After the first four races, he performed dramatically. It does not get any better. If you are allowed to start second in Spa and you finish seventh… The speed in the race was simply bad,” van der Garde said about Perez’s Spa-Francorchamps performance.
Perez has failed to make a mark in the last nine races, managing only 46 points. This decline has put the team’s Constructors’ Championship lead under pressure, as McLaren are now only 42 points behind.