As Formula 1’s 2023 season approaches, there’s an intriguing scenario unfolding in the Red Bull Racing camp. Recent months have witnessed Sergio Perez’s position at Red Bull come under increasing scrutiny, largely due to a mid-season performance dip. This drop in form, with a string of races where he failed to reach Q3 and scored just five points in the last three races, has raised questions about his future with the team.
Despite holding a contract until the end of 2024, speculation has grown that Perez and Red Bull might part ways at the conclusion of this season. Rumors even circulated suggesting that Perez could announce his retirement at his home race, the Mexico City Grand Prix. However, a source close to the situation dismissed these claims as “completely false” and “absolutely not happening.”
Nonetheless, a recent report by German publication Auto Motor und Sport suggests that Perez’s departure is not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Red Bull, it appears, has already considered Daniel Ricciardo as a potential replacement for Perez in the event of such a development.
The future, however, largely hinges on Perez’s ability to maintain his hold on second place in the Drivers’ Championship, a position he currently enjoys with a 30-point lead over Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton with five rounds remaining in the season. The report suggests that Perez “knows that he will have a problem if he can’t hold on to second place in the Championship, contract or no contract.”
Should Perez’s departure become a reality, Daniel Ricciardo could find himself promoted to the senior Red Bull team. This move would create an opening at AlphaTauri, where Liam Lawson is reportedly in line to become Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate in what has been described as an “emergency solution.”
The unfolding drama in the Red Bull camp adds an extra layer of intrigue to the 2023 season, with the potential for significant changes on the horizon.
