F1 News: Ross Brawn Gives Red Bull "Frank" Advice To Make Huge 2024 Changes
Formula 1's former managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn urged Red Bull to consider a more competitive option than Sergio Perez by the end of the current season, someone who can be a direct threat to championship winner Max Verstappen.
Throughout the entirety of the 2023 season, there have been innumerable instances of the media suggesting a Perez replacement this year. After all, he won two races in the early stages of the season before making a nose dive.
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Though team boss Christian Horner repeatedly made claims of retaining him until the end of next year as per their contract, something seemed amiss, preventing the speculation from dying down.
Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Perez has won just 5 of the 64 races for Red Bull, while teammate Verstappen has won three titles and 42 victories in the same period.
Brawn, who played an important role in Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 success, is sure of the F1 grid closing in after winter with McLaren leading the front. Consequently, he has urged Red Bull to drop Sergio Perez for someone more competitive to help make the sport more exciting. Speaking to talkSPORT radio, he said:
“Even though [Red Bull] have this domination at the moment, you will see it [close up] in time.
“And we’re seeing little indications. McLaren, with [Lando] Norris and occasionally [Oscar] Piastri, they’re knocking at the door, keeping them honest, let’s put it that way.
“I think over this winter, I’m optimistic that there will be a reset. When you’re at the front, you have the advantage of being able to start the design of your new car earlier and that’s when that domination can sometimes run for several years.
“What I want to see quite frankly is someone more competitive in the other car because unfortunately, Sergio’s not putting up much competition for Max.
“And even when you get a dominant car, if you can get someone in the other car who’s giving them a hard time [it can be exciting].
“We think of Rosberg and Hamilton, that was a great year and a year when Mercedes were dominating.”
Brawn was pivotal in F1's transition to ground-effect cars last year, a move aimed at enhancing the racing spectacle. He also played a crucial role in introducing new initiatives, including the cost cap.