This hasn’t been quite the year he’d have liked but he’ll still take it for his career is assured of, at least, one more season, if not more. And yet, here’s the predicament.
Sergio Perez has seen a huge decline in his performance this season. He started out this season much like the last one, ahead of everyone except his teammate Verstappen. But since the Miami Grand Prix his pace has gone down a slippery slope.
Opportunities like no other
Sergio Perez has been given opportunities upon opportunities to improve.
Despite his lack of pace and repeated failure to be a challenge to any other driver on the grid, Red Bull decided to give him confidence by extending his contract till 2025. Even after that Perez simply couldn’t manage to get better.
Although the team was partly at fault, because they refused to listen to him about problems with car. Sergio had started complaining about difficulty in driving the RB 19 last year.
But the team refused to acknowledge his complaints as the champion Max Verstappen was still soaring ahead at least 10 seconds of every other driver on track.
This year after suffering from a serious lack of pace did the team admit about developing the RB 20’s floor wrong. Since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Red Bull introduced a new floor, which finally improved the car’s performance.
What can Perez do now?
Sergio Perez has still some time left this season to prove that he is worthy of being in the car next year.
These last three races will decide which team will win the Constructors’ Championship. And Sergio Perez is in the position to help Red Bull win.
If Sergio Perez finds his last year’s form and manages to finish on the podium along with Max Verstappen, then Red Bull shall have passed Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship and be in place to usurp McLaren sitting at the top.
It all rests on the Mexican’s shoulders
F1 2024 season has been a blast for all F1 fans. With 7 different race winners and 6 of them winning at least twice, this year of Formula 1 has been quite exhilarating after two years of Red Bull’s dominance.
Sergio Perez, the man who brings a whole lot of sponsors for the Energy Drink company from Mexico, has a lot riding on his shoulders in these last three Grands Prix.
Sergio Perez has 3 more opportunities to show the world his talent. Otherwise next year might see him replaced before his contract expires much like the Aussie Daniel Ricciardo.
In previous events when Perez was no match for the others
Perez had joined the only Indian team in Formula 1 back in 2014. With Force India, he took 5 podiums, despite the team being only a midfielder team.
Then Sergio Perez rose to the top at the Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020, with the rebranded Racing Point team. Then in 2021, he was replaced by Sebastian Vettel, so the Mexican Wunderkind joined Red Bull.
Sergio Michel “Checo” Perez Mendoza became the only driver to win twice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2021 and in 2023, earning the nickname King of the Streets. Perez was on the podium 9 times last year and took 2 wins from the champion Max Verstappen.
Checo Perez to go out with a bang or sizzle out?
These last three races present Perez a chance to show Red Bull and the world that he still has the fervour and skill needed to drive an F1 car to the top step of the podium.
In his career, Sergio Perez has made some beautiful overtakes over many veterans of the sport including Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso and he still has it in him to win. He displayed this skill this year at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he beat his teammate Max Verstappen, and other drivers as well.
Sadly for him, the last minute collision with Carlos Sainz ended his hopes at a podium finish or a finish at all.
Sergio Perez has stated to the media that 2025 might be his last season as he wants to spend more time with family, and he feels like his time is limited in Formula 1.
Red Bull are already looking at Franco Colapinto for the Red Bull senior team.
This season is going to end with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sergio Pérez has only three chances left to prove that he still deserves to be in the Red Bull seat next year. His results in the final triple header of this season is going to be monumental for both Sergio Perez and Red Bull.
Sergio Perez has the last minute opportunity to pull the rabbit out of the hat and help Red Bull win the Constructors’ Championship and also go out with a bang.