In the past few years, Red Bull’s driver pairing has been interesting, to say the least. Of course, Max Verstappen is Red Bull’s undisputed number 1 driver. And finding the right second driver is a hard task without a doubt. However, Red Bull, after years of looking for that treasure, might have found it by the means of Sergio Perez.
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The Mexican ticked all the boxes. experiences? Potential to win races? Happy to play the support role? Check, check and check. Perez has been an F1 driver for over a decade and raised to prominence with an excellent season at BWT Racing Point in 2020. F1 fans will forever remember his performance during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. He won the race from the last position and his celebration said it all.
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He also finished 4th in the driver’s standings that season and Red Bull was confident that he was their man. On to 2021, however, the 32-year-old had an up and down season. And doubts crept in whether he was the best wingman available for Verstappen.
Rumors suggested former Red Bull driver Pierre Gasly, another victim of Red Bull’s merry-go-round, might be given a second chance to prove himself again. However, Perez has had a solid start to the season. With a second-place finish during the 2022 Imola GP, many believe he has put the rumors to bed.
Should Red Bull stick with Perez?
More often than not, the role of a second driver is to step up when the team desperately needs them. And that is exactly what happened in the 2022 Australian Grand Prix. Reigning champion Max Verstappen was forced to retire due to fuel leakage and it was up to Perez to produce a solid result.
He finished P2 behind runaway race leader Charles Leclerc. Although it was not an ideal result for the Milton-Keynes outfit, the Mexican’s points were valuable, to say the least. On to Imola, the Bulls secured a stunning 1-2 as Perez played the support role with perfection. A Mexican flag on the podium is now a common occurrence.
Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – April 24, 2022 Red Bull’s Sergio Perez celebrates second place on the podium REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
The result? Red Bull are just 11 points behind Ferrari in the constructors’ championship despite enduring a disappointing start.
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“If Perez continues to perform as he does now, it would be madness to replace him. You have to be honest enough to say that he is a bit slower than Verstappen, who is clearly the number 1,” revealed Kees van de Grint, a former Formula 1 engineer after Helmut Marko’s comments on Gasly’s potential comeback at Red Bull.
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However, Perez’s contract ends after this season. With performances like these, fans believe the contract extension is only a matter of time. Nevertheless, it is crucial for the Mexican to maintain his presence on the podium for Red Bull to consider extending his contract.
Should Red Bull provide an opportunity for Pierre Gasly again or is Perez the right man for the job? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
