‘No way’… Will Buxton admits £170k-a-week F1 driver’s seat definitely isn’t safe in 2024

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Journalist Will Buxton has admitted that Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull definitely isn’t safe in 2024.

Buxton was chatting to Greg James on The Fast and the Curious Podcast after the Las Vegas GP.

If you didn’t tune into yesterday’s Grand Prix, you might look at the classification and not bother catching up.

The drivers drove 50 laps and at the end, Max Verstappen took the chequered flag for the 18^th time this season.

However, it was an action-packed race with Charles Leclerc attempting to finally convert a pole position into a race win.

The Monegasque driver performed exceptionally and ultimately not pitting after the second safety car appeared to cost him.

However, he pulled off a sensational move on the last lap to overtake Sergio Perez and claim second place on the podium.

Perez wrapped up the runners-up position in the Drivers’ Championship, but his teammate has now doubled his points tally for the season.

Will Buxton has now warned that despite his recent improvement in form, Sergio Perez’s set isn’t safe during the 2024 season.

The unique set-up of the Red Bull team means that there are always two drivers ready and waiting to take the £170k-a-week driver’s place.

That keeps the pressure on and it’s just whether or not he can cope with that while his teammate is so successful.

Buxton warns Perez’s seat isn’t safe in 2023

Asked by Greg James if Perez’s seat is safe at Red Bull next season, Buxton said: “No way. And for as long as Daniel’s [Ricciardo] sitting in that AlphaTauri he’s not going to be safe because the only reason Daniel’s there is to put pressure on him.

“And I think Red Bull have probably come to the realisation that the only driver who can replace Daniel is Daniel.

“If Daniel gets back to Daniel’s form of old, then they’ll stick him in the car next to Max [Verstappen] as they were the best driver line-up that they’ve had in terms of a two-driver team, I think ever.

“And Daniel played really nicely with Max and Max looked up to and respected Daniel, I don’t think it would quite be the same now because Max has elevated himself to a level that’s beyond almost any driver in Formula 1.

“If Checo can’t maintain a consistent performance and that consistent performance has to be consistent P2s because that is the best car in the field.

“The minimum expectation for that car is P2 and if you’re not getting P2, then what are you doing? Why are you there? They will be asking those questions.”

Despite his recent form, Perez is still under pressure

As Buxton explains, Red Bull make sure their drivers are always under pressure and Perez will still feel that in 2024.

Missing out on a podium on the last lap in Brazil and then a Red Bull one-two in Las Vegas at the same stage of the race will be disappointing.

He was caught napping on several occasions and although Leclerc sent it from a long way back going into turn 14, he should have been covering the inside line as a precaution.

Daniel Ricciardo will have his sight set firmly on that seat next to Verstappen and given Horner is such a big fan of the Australian, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him re-join the team.

Liam Lawson performed so well during his short cameo in F1 that he looks ready to step up in his place if he does get promoted.

Where that leaves Perez is another matter, although he’s more than fast enough to get a seat in another team should Red Bull decide to let him go.