F1 News: Red Bull Post Feeds Rumours Of Sergio Perez Exit While Annoying Fans

Red Bull's choice of a celebratory image excluding current driver Sergio Perez stirs media outrage and speculations about the driver’s future with the team.

Red Bull, with a seemingly innocent social media post celebrating Spa-Francorchamps’ contract renewal, inadvertently fuelled rumours of Sergio Perez's potential departure. Utilising an image featuring Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo instead of current driver Perez, the post ignited outrage, particularly among Mexican media, casting shadows on the team's relationships.

Key Takeaways

• Red Bull’s celebratory social media post, featuring Verstappen and Ricciardo instead of the current lineup of Verstappen and Perez, has sparked discontent and questions, notably from Mexican and Spanish-language media outlets.
• Mexican sports broadcasters and Spanish TV channel LaSexta voiced distinct displeasure and even accusation, interpreting the post as a signal of "total contempt" for Perez.
• In lieu of recent tensions and the conspicuous exclusion of Perez from the post, suspicions about the Mexican driver's future with the team have been noticeably amplified.

In what appears to be a simple flashback post, Red Bull has inadvertently stirred a pot of speculation and frustration among Formula 1 fans and media. The Austrian team's choice to utilise an image of Verstappen and former Red Bull driver Ricciardo, dancing jubilantly atop the Eau Rouge-Raidillon, was intended to mark the joyous occasion of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit remaining on the F1 calendar until 2025. However, it was met with stark criticism and evoked sentiments of puzzlement and annoyance, predominantly from Spanish and Mexican media.

"Red Bull's drivers are Max Verstappen and Checo Perez. Well, to celebrate Spa staying on the calendar until 2025, the team has used an image showing Daniel Ricciardo!", declared LaSexta, a Spanish TV channel, which described the act as exhibiting "total contempt" towards the Mexican driver, Sergio Perez. The choice of image, ignoring the team's current driver pairing, not only seemed to undermine Perez's position but also gave rise to speculation regarding his future within the team.

Racing at the #BelgianGP until 2025? Sounds good 👍 pic.twitter.com/HaWeHhWg3E

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 13, 2023

Moreover, Mexican sports broadcaster W Deportes pulled no punches in expressing their view, stating, "Run away Sergio, you don't deserve this!" This particularly impassioned response is not only an explicit show of support for the Mexican driver but also a direct implication that Perez should consider severing ties with a team that appears to be sidelining him, even in social media commemorations.

F1 Rumour: Sergio Perez To Announce Early Retirement At Mexican Grand Prix

It wasn't just media outlets which were left outraged, the post clearly didn't sit well with some fans as well. 

"The disrespect is crazy"

The disrespect is crazy

— Alex 🥨 (@dogsanxe) October 13, 2023

"You've started removing Checo from the picture slowly. RB family is not a good family"

You've started removing Checo from the picture slowly 😭.

RB family is not a good family 😩

— Elias (@elias_ochako) October 13, 2023