Red Bull now have ‘Plan A’ for Sergio Perez beyond 2024 after summer break talks

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The 2024 Formula 1 season has provided plenty of storylines up and down the paddock with seven race winners in the first 14 Grand Prix of the campaign.

Both Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari drivers have stood on the top step of the podium alongside current championship leader and triple-world champion Max Verstappen.

However, the glaring omission from that list is Red Bull star Sergio Perez who has had a difficult campaign after a positive start to the year.

The Mexican’s performance at the final race before the summer break at Spa cast more doubt on his future.

He finally produced a strong display in qualifying, starting on the front row alongside Charles Leclerc.

Unfortunately, he crossed the line in 8^th – eventually 7^th after George Russell’s disqualification – as he watched all of his closest rivals race past him.

Perez was even moved out of the way of Verstappen at one point to avoid jeopardizing his teammate’s race.

Writing on the Formula 1 website, journalist Lawrence Barretto provided more details about Perez’s future for the rest of this season and beyond.

Perez has a contract that runs until the end of 2025 with an option for an additional year.

However, it’s been suggested Perez could be moved on after just four more races if his performances don’t improve.

Barretto doesn’t believe that’s ‘Plan A’ for Red Bull right now, but he’s in the unfortunate position of knowing that other drivers are ready and waiting to take his seat if things don’t get better soon.

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

Red Bull already have ‘Plan A’ for Sergio Perez after surviving the F1 summer break

Talking about the driver situation within the team, Barretto said: “Red Bull confirmed before the summer break that the line-ups at Red Bull and sister team RB would remain unchanged when the season resumed, despite Max Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez struggling for form.

“As the energy drinks firm has two teams and therefore four seats and signs all its drivers to the organisation rather than one of the two racing squads, they have scope to move the drivers around those seats as they see fit.

“Should Red Bull decide that after giving Perez more support and several races to prove his worth, the Mexican still isn’t showing enough – it’s most likely they will promote either Ricciardo or Lawson into that seat.

“It should be said Red Bull’s Plan A is to keep Perez, who finished second last year and helped them win the constructors’ championship.”

Barretto also believes that Isack Hadjar isn’t currently in line for a Red Bull promotion despite leading the Formula 2 championship.

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

Pierre Wache isn’t confident that Red Bull can help Sergio Perez

It’s become a common trend that drivers tend to struggle alongside Verstappen at Red Bull.

Although the team don’t claim to set up the car specifically to his needs, he tends to drive in a very particular way that can be tough for others to adapt to.

Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache has explained why it might be very difficult to help Perez overcome his difficulties this season.

With the grid converging to such an extent in recent months, Red Bull can’t afford to sacrifice any performance to make the RB20 easier to drive.

However, that means they’re sacrificing track position if Perez is forced to drive within himself to keep the car on the road.

It’s a very tricky predicament and while the team want to keep Perez going forward, eventually his performances may reach a point where that’s no longer possible.