Helmut Marko On Perez’s Chances Of Staying At Red Bull

Sergio Perez opened his ongoing 2024 season with Red Bull with a strong P2 at the Sakhir-bound Bahrain Grand Prix. This was no flash in the pan moment for the famous Mexican; in the very next race, this time at the Jeddah-bound Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he would repeat his Sakhir efforts.

The man often commonly described as the one driving the other Red Bull car notched up another P2.

And as seen most recently in the third race on the calendar, Sergio Perez clocked up a top five finish.

Even as he was nowhere close to the front-running Ferraris, with the win captured by the Italian stable, Perez emerged as the only Red Bull to bring home some points. This was at the wake of the early departure of Max Verstappen whose race was hampered due to a sudden mechanical issue.

But then strange are the ways of Formula 1. One moment, you are in a safe nest within the confines of a team and then, the very next moment, they are calling you out and your future appears to be uncertain.

Is that the case for Sergio Perez at Red Bull? Will he be on his way out of the Milton Keynes outfit come the next world championship season? Or will Red Bull play is safe and wise and retain the talented driver? We don’t know just yet. But what’s known is that Helmut Marko has offered some insight as to what might be the criterion that drives the decision with regard to choosing Verstappen’s future Red bull teammate.

Speaking on the subject of Sergio Perez’s future F1 seat, Helmut Marko, the elderly statesman, who often makes news for his controversial remarks with regards to drivers and the sport, in general, had a simple observation to make.

He’d state, “The age of Red Bull’s next driver will be taken into account.”

Speaking to Sky, the famous Austrian reflected on just how good a position is Sergio Perez in at the moment at the Red Bull team with regard to his racing future with the team.

He would highlight, “Sergio is in a very good position at the moment.”

Elaborating more on the age criterion that Red Bull are basing their driver’s future on, the Octogenarian would highlight:

“The question of who should replace Perez doesn’t really arise. But it’s about the future. Perez is no longer the youngest, nor is Daniel Ricciardo. And if you then take other aspects into account, another driver could certainly be included in this process.”

But all of that said, when asked whether Liam Lawson could actually replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull and in so doing, become the new and long-term future of the team, here’s what Marko shared:

“He has to sit in the car first and prove himself. But what he showed in his appearances [in 2023] was very promising.”

Having told that, what’s rather interesting is whether Carlos Sainz jr., fresh from a recent win and currently driving for his final Ferrari stint, could become Max Verstappen’s future teammate at Red Bull. Lest it is forgotten, the two were paired over half a decade back in time at Toro Rosso.

Sainz’s recent form combined with his eagerness to excel has really caught the attention of those calling the big shots off the grid. In such a scenario, his possible future at Red Bull can’t really be denied. However, these are still early days in deciding what actually transpires next year in Formula 1.