Helmut Marko delivers update on Sergio Perez’s future after Hungarian Grand Prix

Follow us on Google Discover

Red Bull Racing’s head of driver development Helmut Marko is a notoriously difficult man to please.

Plenty of drivers have come and gone from Red Bull’s junior teams – and the senior Red Bull F1 team – after failing to impress Helmut Marko and team principal Christian Horner.

Alex Albon has previously spoken about how he tried to secure his Red Bull future while driving alongside Max Verstappen before eventually losing his seat at the end of the 2020 season.

Daniil Kvyat was once one race away from his career coming to an end thanks to the pressure Marko put on him before his brief stint in the Red Bull team.

Right now, there are two drivers in the Red Bull paddock who are looking over their shoulders.

Daniel Ricciardo doesn’t have a contract for 2025 yet and Marko appears keen to turn RB into a team designated to develop junior drivers.

The other driver is Sergio Perez who despite having a deal that runs for at least the next 18 months, may be moved on during the upcoming summer break.

Marko was speaking after the Hungarian Grand Prix, via Motorsport-Total about how Perez performed at the Hungaroring.

The weekend didn’t start too badly for Perez who looked quick in free practice in a car with fewer updates than teammate Max Verstappen.

However, a crash in Q1 once again forced him to undertake a recovery job rather than challenge for significant points.

It now appears as though Perez is reaching a crunch point in his Red Bull career with just one race weekend to go before the summer break.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname

Helmut Marko shares his thoughts on Sergio Perez’s Hungarian Grand Prix

Unfortunately for Perez, as soon as he failed to progress from Q1 on Saturday, the race on Sunday was going to be a recovery job.

Max Verstappen failed to challenge for victory with McLaren securing an invaluable one-two to close the gap in the Constructors’ Championship.

Perez climbed all the way to 7^th in Hungary, matching his best finish since the Miami Grand Prix and using his infamous tyre management skills to finish ahead of Mercedes star George Russell.

After about how Perez performed, Marko was pleased but delivered an ominous message to the Mexican when he said: “Perez drove a very good race, the strategy worked well. And we’re sticking to our approach: On Monday after Spa, I’ll fly to England and discuss the approach with Horner.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Sergio Perez’s Red Bull meeting could see Daniel Ricciardo live out his dream

The meeting that Marko refers to could have huge implications for both Red Bull teams and the driver’s market as a whole.

Perez could be released by Red Bull due to clauses in his contract that he won’t fulfil regardless of the result at Spa.

Daniel Ricciardo is expected to be Perez’s replacement if the Mexican is dropped, with Liam Lawson likely to step into his RB seat.

Ricciardo has admitted it’s his dream to drive for Red Bull again although it might only be a fleeting visit to the team if he doesn’t impress alongside Verstappen.

With just a few open seats left on the grid for 2025, Perez would suddenly be rushing to find a place in the paddock next year.

Perez may be of interest to one team with a seat available next year.

However, he needs to know sooner rather than later what the situation is otherwise he’ll be caught in no man’s land with no options for next season.