Potential alternatives leave Perez's Red Bull future uncertain
After a solid if somewhat inconsistent first two campaigns with the team, the Mexican was expected to kick on this season and give Red Bull their first-ever 1-2 finish in the Driver’s Championship.
Seven races in, Perez is on track to deliver that target thanks to victories in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan but hasn’t been great outside of those weekends when you consider how dominant his car is and compare him to teammate Max Verstappen.
In fact, his last two performances - which saw him finish 16th in Monaco and fourth in Spain after performing poorly in qualifying at both tracks - have led to speculation that Red Bull could replace him at the end of the year.
He probably doesn’t have to worry about his future just yet given how early in the season it is, but that may change if he doesn’t step up his game given the alternatives that could be available to Red Bull and their willingness to cut contracts short in the past.
One of those alternatives has been spoken about since the end of 2022 when it was announced that Daniel Ricciardo (33) was rejoining the team as a reserve driver after being dropped by McLaren.
The Aussie established himself as one of the best drivers around during his time with the reigning champions, and many felt that the team had re-signed him to assess whether he still was at his peak following a difficult few years at McLaren, in case Perez struggled to perform or stepped out of line in his role as number two to Verstappen.
Whether he really is a threat to the Mexican depends on how he’s performing on the team’s simulator but if he’s doing well, Christian Horner and co may be tempted to take a chance on him in the hopes that he’ll get back to his best - given how good he used to be, they could think it’s a risk worth taking if they’re not happy with Perez.
Ultimately though, it probably isn’t Ricciardo that Checo has to worry about most, but the man who wiped the floor with him while they were teammates at McLaren.
Being one of the best drivers on the grid, Lando Norris is undoubtedly someone Red Bull would jump at the chance to sign and while he technically isn’t available until the end of the 2025 campaign, developments this season have made a potential move far more feasible.
A year ago, it didn’t look like he’d have reason to try to get out of his contract early being the lead driver at a team on the up but McLaren are no longer such a team having fallen down the pecking order. On the flip side, Red Bull have become more dominant and look all but certain to remain at the top of the field until regulation changes come into play in 2026.
He needs a team that can provide him with a car good enough to challenge for titles and his faith that McLaren can give him that will be waning, while Red Bull can effectively guarantee him one.
It’s a near-certainty that he’d want to join them and that they’d want to sign him and, considering the lack of other options they have when it comes to long-term teammates for Verstappen, Red Bull would probably be willing to pay whatever McLaren demanded to get the Brit.
Rumours are already swirling of such a move taking place. Perez can still prevent that, however, and secure his own future by delivering on track but, if he doesn’t, he might just find himself having to look for a new seat come Christmas.
Follow Perez and the rest of the drivers at the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix on Flashscore.
