(Photo : Mark Thompson/Getty Images) LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing walks to the grid previous to the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on October 08, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar.
Red Bull Racing has dominated Formula 1 for the previous two seasons, profitable the Constructors’ championship each instances and securing this yr’s honor with six races left within the season.
Despite their immense success this yr, Mexican driver Sergio Perez has just lately struggled with the group’s extremely dominant RB19 automotive.
After notching a pair of victories early within the season at Jeddah and Baku, Perez has solely managed to select up 5 factors within the final three races in Singapore, Japan, and Qatar.
A bombshell rumor emerged on Reddit that Perez might announce his retirement from Formula 1 quickly, particularly in the course of the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix weekend, October 27 to 29, regardless of being on contract till 2024.
A former worker of one among Perez’s sponsors, Escudería Telmex, apparently leaked the information, saying that Red Bull knowledgeable the driving force of their resolution to tug him from the seat subsequent yr in the course of the week of the Japanese Grand Prix.
There are rumors about Checo asserting his retirement on the Mexican GP👀 pic.twitter.com/LL3372OCZL
— Stefanie (@fastpitstop) October 12, 2023
The rumor additionally revealed that the Guadalajara native is wanting choices for subsequent season, as nearly all of the seats are already taken, and he has determined to prioritize his household. Perez has 4 kids underneath 5 years previous.
Despite his current difficulties, Perez stays second within the present driver’s standings, however Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is slowly catching up with 5 Grand Prix weekends remaining.
It is not any secret that the motorsport division of Red Bull homes many gifted drivers that would fill the hole that the six-time race winner will depart if the rumors ever come to fruition.
With that in thoughts, listed below are the highest candidates to interchange Sergio Perez if he ever retires from the game.
Read extra: Red Bull Star Max Verstappen Admits Several Arguments With Dad Jos on How to Approach F1 Career
1. Daniel Ricciardo
The 34-year-old Australian is confirmed and examined, having hung out racing with the group from 2014 to 2018.
Ricciardo returned to F1 with Red Bull’s sister group AlphaTauri after Nyck De Vries was sacked, spending the start of the yr as a reserve driver behind Verstappen and Perez.
Red Bull engineers have been reportedly impressed together with his efficiency throughout a tire take a look at final July.
However, his return was lower brief following a hand harm in the course of the Dutch Grand Prix, which has saved him out of motion since.
The group could not have gathered sufficient knowledge to be satisfied that Ricciardo is the best man to associate with Verstappen.
2. Liam Lawson
The 21-year-old unexpectedly made his F1 debut after Ricciardo needed to be sidelined, and he has since delivered properly for AlphaTauri regardless of driving one of many worst vehicles on the grid this yr.
Lawson bagged the group’s highest end this yr on the Singapore Grand Prix final month, ending ninth place in solely his third F1 race.
The Australian driver may be prepared for a full-time F1 seat subsequent season.
3. Yuki Tsunoda
The Japanese sensation has been part of AlphaTauri because the 2021 season, and he has now gained a substantial quantity of F1 expertise that would warrant a promotion to the primary group.
The 23-year-old has scored thrice this season regardless of a horrible automotive, which is a outstanding feat and a sign of his uncooked expertise behind the wheel.
Red Bull’s engine associate, Honda, would even be delighted with the place of their countryman driving for the flagship group.
Related Article: Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner Issues Warning to Sergio Perez Amid Poor Run of Results
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