F1 News: Helmut Marko Offers Fresh Sergio Perez Warning - "Up To Him Now"

Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has sent yet another warning to Sergio Perez.

Helmut Marko has issued yet another stark warning to Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, underlining that his seat for the forthcoming season hangs precariously amidst a series of lacklustre performances. With “three relatively good drivers” waiting in the wings and a contract through to 2024 hanging in the balance, the pressure is mounting for Perez.

Key Takeaways

• In the aftermath of scoring a mere five points across the last three Grands Prix, Sergio Perez has found himself on unstable ground within the Red Bull team, potentially jeopardising his race seat and second place in the Drivers' standings.
• The Red Bull motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, has articulated that while the team wishes to adhere to Perez's contract through to 2024, its continuation is “entirely up to him now”.
• Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson, all contracted to AlphaTauri for the 2024 championship, have been hinted at as potential replacements should Perez’s performance continue to wane.

This unfolding drama within the Red Bull camp, particularly surrounding Perez, has been underscored by Marko's straightforward message: 

“The gap is simply too big at the moment because second place in the World Championship is also at risk now.” 

Despite a contract extending through to 2024, the gulf in performance between Perez and his high-achieving teammate Max Verstappen cannot be ignored.

Perez's struggles have not gone unnoticed, with a threat from Lewis Hamilton who now lingers just 30 points behind in the Drivers' standings with five races to go. A continuation of this downtrend, and the potential of Hamilton closing the gap, brings Perez’s place within the team under intense scrutiny.

However, Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, attempted to circumvent the swirling speculation during the Qatar Grand Prix, stating:

“We’re going to give all the support we possibly can for Checo to find his form.” 

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He did concede that the team’s frustration is growing, acknowledging that they are acutely aware of what Perez "is capable of doing" and that they "desperately" want to uncover the formula that will enable him to perform optimally.

The looming presence of Ricciardo, Tsunoda, and Lawson from AlphaTauri — all speculated as potential successors — exacerbates the pressure on Perez.