Red Bull plan double driver change ‘behind the scenes’ if Sergio Perez struggles at Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Follow us on Google Discover

Sergio Perez wasn’t solely to blame for his latest poor result at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Friday. Perez qualified down in 13th for Saturday’s Sprint.

Unlike his competitors, he didn’t have the chance to set a second lap in SQ2. Perez didn’t make it to the line before the chequered flag, so there was clearly an operational error from Red Bull.

But externally, this will only add to the growing feeling that his time is up. A rumour ‘erupted’ last week that Brazil could be Perez’s last race with Red Bull.

Some would argue there’s little reason to make an early change. The Bulls are already 54 points off the lead of the constructors’ championship, a margin that will likely grow this weekend.

In the short term, a replacement is unlikely to deliver the kind of improvement needed to change the championship landscape. And Max Verstappen is already used to defending the drivers’ title without support.

Perhaps the cleanest way to handle things for all involved would be to make a change over the winter. But Red Bull may feel that Perez’s position is becoming untenable.

Red Bull ready to call up Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar after Brazilian Grand Prix

According to Ralf Bach, speaking on the F1 Insider YouTube channel, Red Bull are privately planning to fire Perez if he ‘doesn’t perform great’ on Saturday and Sunday. He needs a solid recovery drive in the Sprint and, at the very least, a top-eight spot in Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying.

They will then assess not only his finishing position, but also his speed and racecraft. If they’re dissatisfied, they could bring Liam Lawson in as a replacement from Las Vegas onwards.

Lawson has only completed two races since taking over from Daniel Ricciardo at RB. But he scored points on his return in the US and bagged a fine P8 on the grid for the Sprint.

A rapid promotion would leave a seat empty at RB, and Bach thinks Red Bull would turn to Isack Hadjar. That could cost Hadjar a shot at the F2 title, with the Hitech driver second behind Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the last two rounds in Qatar and Las Vegas.

“I’m pretty sure that Perez will no longer drive,” Bach said. “Maybe he will also be replaced in Las Vegas by Lawson and Hadjar, the junior, will then be promoted to the Racing Bull. That’s at least the plan behind the scenes if Perez doesn’t perform great tomorrow [Saturday] and on Sunday.”

Sergio Perez may already have given secret farewell amid Red Bull sack rumours

Perez’s management are confident his contract his ‘watertight’, according to Damon Hill. However, Red Bull wouldn’t be openly discussing the possibility of axing him if they didn’t see an exit route.

Reports have claimed that Perez breached the terms of his deal earlier this year. He fell too far behind Verstappen before the summer break, failing to meet a performance clause and enabling the team to make a change.

While the 34-year-old has been publicly bullish, one journalist thinks Perez gave a ‘farewell speech’ last time out in Mexico. It could be his last visit to his home race as an F1 driver.

The South American press have claimed Christian Horner is negotiating for Carlos Sainz in what would be a remarkable move, given that he’s already signed for Williams. That may explain why the team are keen to give Lawson a mini-audition next to Verstappen.