Sergio Perez and his Red Bull seat have been the topic of conversation for quite some time now. He has not been unlocking the Rb19’s potential when compared to Max Verstappen. Considering this fact, Red Bull has reportedly given the Mexican driver an ultimatum.
According to reports from Motorsport Italy, Red Bull has told Sergio Perez that if he is not able to retain 2nd place in the WDC until the end of the season, he will be replaced by Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo is currently driving for AlphaTauri alongside Yuki Tsunoda.
Sergio Perez currently sits in 2nd place with only a 30-point lead from Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen on the other hand has over a 200-point lead from his teammate. Red Bull cannot ignore this magnificent point deficit between 2 drivers who are driving the same machinery.
⚠️ | Motorsport Italy reports that the impression is that Sergio Pérez in fact does have an ultimatum.
He will have to convince the team in the next 5 races (until the end of the season).
If he fails to convince the team, Ricciardo would likely be his replacement.#F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/Zu8YfdNrde
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) October 19, 2023
Helmut Marko has also been criticizing Sergio Perez to the media. He even made a few racist and xenophobic comments about the Mexican driver. If this ultimatum is true, Sergio Perez will have to bring everything he can for the next 5 races. If Lewis Hamilton is even able to win one of the 5 remaining races, it will be bad news for Sergio Perez.
After the British Grand Prix earlier this year, Daniel Ricciardo drove the RB19 to test the new Pirelli tires for 2024. It has been reported that his best time during the test was good enough to qualify for P2 at the British Grand Prix. Sergio Perez on the other hand qualified only 15th for the British Grand Prix. This was one of the main reasons Daniel replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri.
Mercedes’ new upgrades threaten Sergio Perez as he tries to defend from Lewis Hamilton
With only 5 Grand Prix remaining, Mercedes has announced that they will be bringing in some new upgrades. This upgrade is reportedly a major one. It could even fill the gap between Mercedes and Red Bull. This could allow Lewis Hamilton to take the challenge to Max Verstappen. This will be a nightmare scenario for Sergio Perez.
If Red Bull feels that Mercedes or McLaren can challenge for the Championship next season, they could be looking to change their lineup to bring in someone who is closer to Max Verstappen’s pace. Both Mercedes and McLaren have a strong lineup of drivers. So if Sergio Perez is not able to keep up with the pace of these teams, Red Bull may not be able to win the WCC.
🚨 | NEW: Mercedes will introduce a critical upgrade package to this week’s US GP.
These updates will help Mercedes move to their new concept for 2024.
James Allison explains below:https://t.co/iaJ6tQYYbq
— formularacers (@formularacers_) October 16, 2023
Daniel Ricciardo has proven to be quick in a Red Bull. He has driven for the team until the 2018 season. During this time, he challenged Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. The Aussie was the only non-Mercedes driver to win a race in 2014.
However, since joining McLaren, this pace has disappeared. It is speculated that Ricciardo was not comfortable with McLaren’s car, but is confident with Red Bull’s. So this could see the return of Ricciardo’s form. Do you think Daniel Ricciardo can match Max Verstappen’s pace in Red Bull? Post your answers in the comment section below.