Just hours before qualifying in Hungary, we published an article at LWOS about the mounting pressure on Sergio Perez to deliver results. Unfortunately for the 34-year-old, a crash in Q1 cemented his dire run of form. Speaking after the session, Red Bull’s Christian Horner made no secret about the situation’s severity.
Sergio Perez suffers another setback
There were three Red Bull cars in Q3 at the Hungaroring. The first was Max Verstappen, accompanied by Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo.
Although Tsunoda himself committed an error at the end of qualifying, the presence of every other Red Bull driver in the top 10 was a statement.
Whilst there is plenty of debate about who could replace Perez, it cannot be said there are no alternatives.
If anything, with drivers like Lawson waiting in the wings, the Milton Keynes team is spoilt for choice.
Inevitably, there will be disagreements (both within and beyond Red Bull) about who is best suited to race alongside Verstappen.
However, what cannot be denied is that Perez’s place within the team is becoming unsustainable.
Horner: Red Bull cannot continue on one leg
Christian Horner was blunt in the assessment he gave to the media in Budapest:
“I think I have shown that I am very patient,” he told Viaplay.
“But this was really the last thing he and the team needed.
“We now have to get everything back together, repair the car and see what we can get out of it during the race.
“Any discussions we have with him will, of course, take place internally and not in front of the media.
“But of course, we can’t run on one leg.”
Ironically, at the beginning of the season, Red Bull insisted they would not rush any driver decisions.
Helmut Marko was adamant that nothing about the team’s lineup would be set in stone before the summer break.
He believed that Red Bull should not be drawn into the silly season sparked by Hamilton’s Ferrari move.
However, within a few months, Perez was given a new contract well before the summer. This was despite the concerns about his ability to reinforce Verstappen in the Constructors’ battle.
With two races left before the mid-season break, it seems increasingly clear there will be change at Milton Keynes.
The question is about what direction Red Bull are going to pursue.
