Harry Benjamin says six-time GP winner already in ‘worrying territory’ this year

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Red Bull driver Sergio Perez finds himself in ‘worrying territory’ just one race into the new season, BBC F1 commentator Harry Benjamin says.

Perez qualified fifth for the Bahrain Grand Prix as teammate Max Verstappen took pole position ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), George Russell (Mercedes) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari).

While he was able to claw back a second-place finish in the race, Benjamin says his showing in Sakhir wasn’t ‘good enough’ overall.

After passing Sainz at the start then overtaking Leclerc and Russell, Perez finished more than 20 seconds adrift of Verstappen.

The Mexican, who has won six Grands Prix, is fighting to keep his seat in the final year of his contract.

Harry Benjamin warns Sergio Perez he must raise his game

Speaking on The Chequered Flag podcast for BBC Radio 5 Live, commentator Benjamin pointed out that Perez had gone backwards after finishing only 12 seconds behind Verstappen at the same race last year.

With Carlos Sainz, who will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, and Fernando Alonso, in the final year of his Aston Martin deal, both on the lookout for new drives, he’s been told he must improve immediately.

“I don’t think he is where he needs to be,” Benjamin said (11:23). “Yes, he’s P2, but he’s 20 seconds off Verstappen, and Sainz wasn’t far behind in the Ferrari.

“Yes, a couple of seconds back, and he didn’t really gain too much on Perez to cause too much of a worry.

“But Perez qualified in fifth – first of all not good enough in that car. He got up to second fairly easily, it’s fair to say.

“But at the same point, it’s not really good enough in what might be his final season with Red Bull.

“He’s out of contract along with 12 other drivers and the driver market is insane this season. It’s highly competitive.

“When you’ve got a Carlos Sainz on the market, Fernando Alonso on the market, a young gun in F2 on the market, if Perez is 20 seconds back in the first race of the season, Red Bull are surely thinking, ‘well this isn’t really any kind of improvement from last year’.

“In fact, it’s probably gone back a little bit. First race of the season, he might come good. But I think this is worrying territory for Sergio Perez.”

Perez in battle to keep Red Bull drive

Red Bull maintained their faith in Perez for 2024 despite the record-breaking gap between the 34-year-old and Verstappen in the championship.

He finished just under 300 points adrift after winning just two races to Verstappen’s 19.

Crucially, he was able to hold off Hamilton in the Mercedes and secure the runner-up spot.

Sky Sports F1 pundit Damon Hill has urged Sainz to set his sights firmly on Perez’s seat, and the Spaniard may have impressed Red Bull with a driver-of-the-day showing in Sakhir.