Anthony Davidson spots big ‘change’ in how Red Bull discuss Sergio Perez

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Anthony Davidson sees a big ‘change’ in how Red Bull now discuss Sergio Perez amid doubts over the Mexican’s future at the Formula 1 team at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 34-year-old is facing increasing pressure to keep his drive with Perez enduring a lengthy dire spell. He has not got on a podium since the Chinese Grand Prix back in round five of the season. Red Bull have even not seen Perez finish higher than P7 over the past six Grand Prix.

Perez started this year offering Red Bull enough as Max Verstappen’s No2 with four podiums in the first five rounds, including three P2 finishes. Yet the wheels fell off his wagon from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with Perez also failing to reach Q3 in qualifying four times so far.

Anthony Davidson thinks Red Bull are now ‘putting pressure’ on Sergio Perez

Red Bull most recently saw Perez fail to even get out of Q1 at the British Grand Prix after the Guadalajara native crashed in the opening phase. The team’s gamble on fitting intermediate tyres early in the race also did not pay off. Perez finished two laps off the lead at Silverstone.

So, Perez arrived at the Hungarian GP this weekend just sixth in the drivers’ standings with a 137-point deficit to Verstappen. The Dutchman has scored more than double the 118 points the Mexican has. Even team boss Christian Horner feels Perez’s form is now ‘unsustainable’.

READ MORE: Five unforgettable Hungarian Grand Prix including Alonso and Hamilton’s spat

Horner admitting that Red Bull cannot accept Perez failing to score regular points marked a big change in how the team discuss his situation for Davidson. The Milton Keynes outfit had previously quickly silenced questions about his future but are the one applying the pressure.

Davidson said on Sky Sports F1 (19/7, 16:17): “It’s gone from us asking the question or even raising the point of concern and the team kind of batting it away and saying, ‘No, nothing to see here. Drivers have ups and downs, it’s all part of a long season’. It’s now changed.

“But it’s now gone to the team basically making headlines [by] saying, ‘Yes, it’s time to start improving. We’re losing valuable points with teams like McLaren and Mercedes starting to catch up’. That’s putting pressure on everybody in the team – mostly on Perez’s shoulders.”

Liam Lawson is primed to replace Sergio Perez

Perez knew he had to deliver coming into the 2024 Formula 1 season as he was set to be out of contract with Red Bull at the end of this year. His early form then convinced Horner to gift him a fresh deal, despite announcing it after Perez’s first lap crash in the Monaco Grand Prix.

READ MORE: The most successful F1 drivers at the Hungarian GP of all-time

But Red Bull are now considering if Perez is the right man to partner Verstappen and can axe the 34-year-old in the summer break should they wish to. The Race reports that Perez’s new contract includes potential break clauses but none involving his points deficit to Verstappen.

Reserve driver Liam Lawson is primed to replace Perez if Red Bull decide to drop the six-time Grand Prix winner. But Perez has an ally in team principal Horner, who is reluctant to fire the Mexican having been the one responsible for giving the two-year contract extension in June.