Sergio Perez leaves reporter ‘gobsmacked’ with unbelievable admission before Mexico City Grand Prix

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Sergio Perez has endured a difficult season in Formula 1, costing Red Bull valuable points over the year in the Constructors’ Championship.

The Mexican driver started the season well, scoring three podiums in the first four races but his form dipped over the summer.

Perez has also failed to finish in the top five since the Miami Grand Prix in May, in a frustrating episode for the 34-year-old.

He is heading into his home event at the Mexico City Grand Prix after a difficult weekend last time out, finishing in seventh place at the United States Grand Prix.

Perez is also under pressure from New Zealander Liam Lawson, who drove to ninth place in America for RB and is a contender to drive for Red Bull in 2025.

The Red Bull driver made some comments in the press conference ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix that surprised reporter Stuart Codling on the Autosport YouTube channel.

Sergio Perez was ‘refreshingly honest’ admitting he has had a ‘terrible season’

Perez has consistently been significantly slower than his teammate Max Verstappen, and hasn’t been able to drive around the RB20’s limitations.

The Mexican driver has made multiple errors in qualifying, getting knocked out in Q1 at the British Grand Prix, narrowing Red Bull’s strategy options.

Perez has performed well in Mexico over his career, scoring back-to-back third-place finishes in 2021 and 2022.

READ MORE: The brutal joke F1 press conference host made at Sergio Perez’s expense before Mexico City Grand Prix

A good performance at his home race this weekend would ease some of the pressure but he is running out of time to make an impression.

If Red Bull were to lose the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren, it may force the team to look for a new teammate for Verstappen.

Codling explained on the Autosport YouTube channel that he was surprised at Perez’s honesty in the press conference when the Mexican admitted he is having a “terrible season, a very difficult one”.

He said: “I was gobsmacked when I heard that. When he said that, I actually leaned over to look at the look on his face, I couldn’t believe it.

“Up until now, everyone’s been in denial in Red Bull, even Christian Horner and Helmut Marco have gone, ‘you know, he does the odd good race.’ So for Checo now to say, actually, I’ve had a bit of a shocker, refreshingly honest.

“He’s clearly safe in the knowledge that he’s done quite a poor job this year. Maybe he’s actually been told that, well, you might have done a crap job this year, but you’re still in a job for next year. So why not go out and tell everyone you’ve had a shocker? It’ll be all right.”

Sergio Perez may be replaced by Liam Lawson at Red Bull in 2025

Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo at RB after the Singapore Grand Prix and hit the ground running with a ninth-place finish last time out.

The New Zealander may be the solution for Red Bull, as Lawson could be an improvement on Perez who has struggled.

Over the final five races of the season, Lawson has to keep up the momentum and beat his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

If the 22-year-old can deliver consistently and provide good feedback to engineers to help improve the car then Lawson may have the chance to drive for Red Bull in 2025.