Red Bull Car Too Difficult For Sergio Pérez

Dr Helmut Marko has explained that Red Bull decided to support Sergio Pérez because the team believes their car has become too challenging for him to handle, and they are confident a turnaround in his performance is close.

Pérez’s future was heavily speculated upon as Formula 1 entered its August summer break, with many within the paddock expecting him to be replaced by either Daniel Ricciardo or Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson.

After a meeting following the Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull confirmed that Sergio Pérez will continue as Max Verstappen’s teammate after the summer break.

Racing advisor Helmut Marko suggested that the team is considering adjustments to help Pérez improve from the Dutch Grand Prix onwards…

‘We believe that we can turn it round and make it more stable for him.’

‘To be [a] teammate to Max is not the nicest thing in Formula One. Checo has his merits, he’s won races.’

‘Our discussion was not just about drivers, it was regular discussions we had of what can we do to improve the situation? We have to try to make the car more easy to drive.’

‘The more difficult the car is to drive, the more the difference to Max comes out because he’s such an outstanding talent. If the rear steps out he won’t lift the throttle, he’s just, ‘yeah, it’s a little bit nervous,’ Checo says ‘it’s difficult’ or ‘its undrivable.’

‘So to be next to Max is a different story. So we said let’s try to make the car more easy to drive, get more balance, which is also something Max wants, and the best thing is to keep going with Checo and hope that he … the main problem was this up and down.’

‘He had some very good results, very good performances, then the next day he was half a second off Max or so,’ said Marko.