Crimson Bull group principal Christian Horner’s responses over Sergio Perez’s future modified noticeably within the wake of the Qatar Grand Prix, the place the group’s hopes of successful a 3rd consecutive constructors’ championship ended.
Beforehand Horner was at pains to emphasize Crimson Bull’s religion in Perez’s capacity to show his dire season round. However final evening his phrases carried unmistakeable overtones {that a} parting of the way is imminent.
“We’re going to present him all of the help that we will to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi subsequent weekend,” mentioned Horner. “And what he decides to do, that shall be his determination on the finish of the day.”
Horner referred to the function Perez performed in serving to the group win the final two constructors’ championships. Nevertheless such was the group’s benefit final 12 months that Max Verstappen single-handedly scored sufficient factors to ensure them the title, and Perez should shoulder a big quantity of the blame for his or her defeat this 12 months.
Perez has scored so poorly that whereas his group mate clinched the drivers’ title two races in the past, Crimson Bull will go to the season finale unable to win the constructors’ title.
This situation hasn’t occurred since 1982, and it took some excessive circumstances for that to occur. Whereas Keke Rosberg received the drivers’ title for Williams, the group’s second automotive rotated between three totally different drivers, and contributed simply 24% of their factors whole. Nonetheless, that’s little worse than Perez’s 26%.
However the brand new deal Crimson Bull handed Perez earlier this 12 months, motorsport guide Helmut Marko lately mentioned the group’s shareholders will contemplate Perez’s future after the season ends. They’re prone to take a dim view of their failure to ship each titles when Verstappen is 80 factors forward within the drivers’ standings.
Advert | Develop into a RaceFans supporter and
But when the writing is lastly on the wall for Perez, Crimson Bull’s alternative of his alternative is much less apparent. Daniel Ricciardo was clearly being eyed as a possible alternative once they rehired him just below two years in the past, however that didn’t work out.
That leaves three seemingly choices on the desk for Crimson Bull – and potential penalties for his or her junior group, to not point out their departing driver.
Lawson: One other fast promotion to Crimson Bull?
Liam Lawson chalked up his tenth grand prix begin final weekend for Crimson Bull’s second group. He made all these begins alongside Yuki Tsunoda, and although he hasn’t blown away his extra skilled group mate, he has proven promising tempo given his lack of expertise.
Final 12 months, handed his grand prix debut at brief discover, Lawson acquitted himself beautifully on a moist observe and Zandvoort. He went on to say a factors end at Singapore, delivering the group’s greatest results of the season on the time. Lawson scored instantly on his return this 12 months and continued to acquit himself nicely on largely unfamiliar tracks.
Though Lawson will solely have began 11 grands prix by the top of the season, a scarcity of skilled hasn’t deterred Crimson Bull prior to now. Alexander Albon was ushered into the highest group after simply 12 races in 2019.
Tsunoda: His likelihood eventually?
Nearing the top of his fourth 12 months at RB (previously AlphaTauri), Tsunoda’s place within the group subsequent 12 months has already been confirmed. Nevertheless Crimson Bull by no means appear to have been significantly passionate about selling him additional. It took him some time to get on phrases with Pierre Gasly, who was relegated to their junior squad after simply half a season in 2019.
Nevertheless Crimson Bull have organized to run Tsunoda in one among their vehicles in post-season testing. This may very well be his final, greatest likelihood to persuade the group he deserves a seat.
Advert | Develop into a RaceFans supporter and
Colapinto: Outsider’s hopes fading?
Franco Colapinto made an attention grabbing debut for Williams when the group misplaced affected person with Logan Sargeant after the Dutch Gran Prix. After a relaxed debut at Monza he rose above the chaos in Baku to take an excellent eighth – forward of Lewis Hamilton, no much less – and added one other level at Austin.
As each Williams seats are occupied subsequent 12 months, rumours unfold that Colapinto may discover his manner into Crimson Bull’s operation at some stage. That hypothesis cooled following Colapinto’s crashes at Interlagos and Las Vegas.
RB: Which junior is subsequent?
Any driver motion additional up the Crimson Bull operation is prone to have an impact downstream at RB. But when they discover themselves with a emptiness to plug, will Crimson Bull go for Colapinto, or one among its many juniors?
Isack Hadjar has given an excellent account of himself in Formulation 2 this 12 months. He’s simply half some extent off the championship lead, regardless of having some awful luck at occasions. He has additionally racked up a helpful quantity of F1 observe periods appearances.
Japanese Tremendous Formulation racer Ayumu Iwasa can also be a candidate. Nevertheless he didn’t have as robust a 12 months within the collection as Lawson did final 12 months, ending the season a win-less fifth whereas his Crimson Bull predecessor took a trio of victories and solely missed the title by eight factors.
Perez: The tip of the road?
Previous to final weekend’s race, Perez dismissed recommendations Crimson Bull may relegate him to RB subsequent 12 months. Provided that, he isn’t going to discover a seat on the F1 grid in 2025.
A return additional down the road will not be unimaginable, nevertheless. Cadillac’s anticipated arrival in 2026 will open up two extra seats, and with over 280 begins to his identify Perez would convey an enviable quantity of expertise. Nevertheless powerful latest years has been, he has proved himself a succesful group chief prior to now, notably when he took Racing Level to their sole victory in 2020.
No matter occurs, if that is to be Perez’s closing F1 drive for the foreseeable future this weekend, hopefully he will get the possibility to acknowledge it, in contrast to Ricciardo’s poorly-handled exit on the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this 12 months.
Advert | Develop into a RaceFans supporter and
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a every day e-mail with all our newest tales – and nothing else. No advertising and marketing, no adverts. Join right here:
