27-podium F1 team could ‘make a play’ for Sergio Perez this summer if he loses Red Bull seat

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Sergio Perez is at risk of losing his Red Bull seat midway through the 2024 season. Just a month after signing a contract extension, it emerged that his position was under threat.

Red Bull negotiated performance clauses into that deal, giving them the option to part ways with the Mexican if he failed to deliver. The expectation was that these wouldn’t become relevant until 2025, when he hoped to trigger the 2026 option.

But if Perez is more than 100 points behind Verstappen after the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of the month, the team can make a change during the summer break. Reserve driver Liam Lawson appears the main contender to replace him.

The 34-year-old started his F1 career back in 2011 with Sauber. After impressing in his two years with the Swiss outfit, he made a big move to McLaren.

Neither side lived up to each other’s expectations, and Perez left for Force India ahead of the 2014 season. He would remain with the team through their transition to Racing Point, winning his first Grand Prix in Sakhir in 2020.

He lost that seat after the signing of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, but Red Bull made him an offer. He’s added five more race wins to his tally in the past four seasons with the Milton Keynes outfit.

Sergio Perez could replace Zhou Guanyu at Sauber

Perez may be assessing alternative options to continue his career if he can’t save his Red Bull drive. And his very first team could approach him immediately.

Speaking on The Race F1 podcast, journalist Ben Anderson suggested that Sauber would be open to axing Zhou Guanyu midseason if Perez became available. Audi have already told Zhou he’s not part of their plans as they prepare to take control of the team in 2026.

The Chinese driver hasn’t finished higher than 13th since the opening race in Bahrain and trails Valtteri Bottas 8-4 in qualifying. Anderson says there would already be speculation about him losing his drive this summer if Sauber had their own young superstar behind the scenes.

Perez’s potential Red Bull exit could change the landscape, though. Sauber may look to reunite him with his former Force India partner Nico Hulkenberg, whom they’ve signed from Haas for 2025.

Asked why there’s little talk of Zhou losing his seat, Anderson replied: “I think mainly because there isn’t an Antonelli-shaped elephant in the room. If Sauber had more faith in [academy driver] Theo Pourchaire, I think Zhou would already be out of a drive.

“If there was somebody waiting in the wings that they could blood in, they would do it probably. From a performance point of view, he should be in that kind of conversation.

“The only thing that maybe could be considered a curveball – it depends on the contract situation – is [if] Perez gets flicked by Red Bull in the summer break. I could see Sauber/Audi making a play for him and looking to revive, if not for midseason then certainly for next season, the former Force India line-up.”

One more team could also be interested in Perez if he loses Red Bull seat

Perez will have to drop down to the lower end of the midfield if he wants to continue in F1 post-Red Bull. That’s the only area where there are vacancies right now.

Sauber boast a highly respectable track record in F1, with 474 race starts, 27 podiums and one win (Robert Kubica at the 2008 Canadian GP). They currently rank bottom of the constructors’ championship, but Audi’s arrival offers cause for optimism.

James Vowles and Williams may also see Perez as an ‘interesting’ option. They’re looking for a partner for Alex Albon and may miss out on Carlos Sainz.

Ironically, Perez took Albon’s spot at Red Bull at the end of 2020. There’s now a possibility that they line up together after both struggling alongside Max Verstappen.