Red Bull told Max Verstappen would reject ‘annoying’ driver as they ponder Sergio Perez future

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Red Bull are weighing up whether to sack Sergio Perez and sign a new teammate for Max Verstappen. Perez recently signed a new contract but has endured a dismal run of form either side.

The team announced ahead of the Canadian GP last month that Perez had penned an extension. But there are apparently break clauses that allow them to part ways if they see fit.

Should Perez remain more than 100 points behind Verstappen by the summer break, Red Bull are entitled to axe him. The gap is currently 137 with two races to go.

After finishing a respectable fourth in Miami at the start of May, the Mexican was second in the championship, 35 points behind Verstappen. Just six races later, he’s dropped four places after two DNFs and a 17th-place finish at Silverstone.

One journalist believes Red Bull are preparing to ditch Perez and make a change. Reserve driver Liam Lawson will test the RB20 this week and is a candidate for the seat.

Daniel Ricciardo won’t be replacing Perez after an inconsistent season at RB. Meanwhile, team principal Christian Horner doesn’t think Yuki Tsunoda could ‘survive’ against Verstappen.

Peter Windsor says Max Verstappen would reject Nico Hulkenberg at Red Bull

Remarkably, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg has scored more points in the last two races (16) than Perez has in the last six (15). Hulkenberg has delivered back-to-back P6 finishes to transform the outlook of his team’s season.

Unfortunately for Haas, he’s already signed elsewhere for 2025. He confirmed in April that he’d be joining Audi, with rookie Oliver Bearman drafted in as his successor.

Speaking on the Cameron F1 YouTube channel, though, Peter Windsor argued that Verstappen wouldn’t want a driver like Hulkenberg as his teammate. He says that the German would be too ‘annoying’, while Perez presents few problems.

He famously holds the record for the most race starts 215 without a podium. But he’s been highly rated for much of his career, having finished in the world championship top 10 on six occasions.

“Here’s the thing,” he said. “Max wouldn’t want Hulkenberg as his number two driver.

“If he had the choice of Perez or Hulkenberg – if the team also pointed out how much money Perez brings – Max will say ‘yeah, Checo’s fine, he’s no problem’. Why would he want somebody quick and annoying in the other car?”

Brundle hails ‘extraordinary’ Hulkenberg feat at Silverstone

Ralf Schumacher has argued that Hulkenberg would be an upgrade on Perez. He feels he’s in a ‘completely different league’ right now.

The 36-year-old has reached Q3 six times this year – something teammate Kevin Magnussen hasn’t been able to do once. His former Haas boss Guenther Steiner regards Hulkenberg as the most underrated driver on the grid.

He even managed to outpace the works Ferrari of Carlos Sainz to grab a third-row slot for the British GP last weekend. Martin Brundle marvelled at the ‘extraordinary’ speed of Hulkenberg through Becketts.

No top F1 team has given him a shot during his career, and it looks as if the window has now closed. Audi don’t expect to compete for titles until 2031, but perhaps they can at least give him a podium-worthy car before then.