Tom Coronel says failing F1 driver isn’t ‘worthy’ of his seat ‘as a person’

Follow us on Google Discover

While much of the 2025 Formula 1 grid has now been finalised, there are still multiple drivers who enter the second half of the season under pressure. Starting with this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, they must deliver to keep their place.

Chief among them, of course, is Sergio Perez. The Red Bull driver just about hung onto his seat beyond the summer break, but he isn’t guaranteed to see out the season.

He’s scored just 28 points in the last eight races – the kind of run that should be unthinkable in a championship-leading car. Red Bull granted Perez a ‘stay of execution’ but they could axe him after Singapore if their remaining ideas don’t deliver an improvement.

One of the drivers hoping to replace him is Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo raced for the team between 2014 and 2018 but finds himself back with junior outfit RB after his career unravelled.

Remarkably, Ricciardo is eyeing a promotion and trying to keep his seat at the very same time. Indeed, Helmut Marko says Liam Lawson will have a seat for 2025, so if Perez stays at Red Bull, Ricciardo will be the casualty.

And finally, Logan Sargeant still needs to earn the right to see out the season at Williams. James Vowles could sack Sargeant early if he underdelivers, even though he’ll have to wait until 2025 to field Carlos Sainz.

Tom Coronel rips into Red Bull driver Sergio Perez

Speaking to formule1.nl, Tom Coronel expressed his amazement at Red Bull’s decision to extend Perez’s deal back in June. Had they waited, they may have avoided their present dilemma.

It would cost Red Bull nearly £4m to pay off Perez, who’s now partly protected by his new deal. It’s worth noting, though, that they stand to lose twice that amount if McLaren pip them to the constructors’ title.

Coronel thinks Perez, who spent his first 10 years in F1 scrapping in the midfield, belongs in a ‘B team’. He doesn’t have the personality or the talent, in his eyes, for a front-running seat.

He gave him a score of 2.5 out of 10 for his performances in the first 14 races. That would likely have been much higher after China, when he notched his fourth podium in five starts.

“With him, it’s all just not quite there,” he said. “And that means you should be in a B team, not an A team. I still don’t understand why they gave him a new contract. Bizarre!

“He is not worthy of Red Bull. Not as a person and certainly not as a driver. He proves it time and again; results and standings don’t lie. For me, Pérez is a big fail. I give him a 2.5. There’s no way to justify this anymore.”

Eddie Jordan predicts who will partner Max Verstappen in 2025

Looking at those who were on the market this year, Marc Surer reckons only three drivers could cope alongside Verstappen. He named two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, three-time race-winner Carlos Sainz and 217-race veteran Nico Hulkenberg.

At this stage, Red Bull don’t see a superior alternative to Perez. They believe that Ricciardo and Lawson would struggle a similar amount in a car that’s become difficult to drive.

Perez’s position could become untenable before the end of the year, of course. And Ricciardo could theoretically build a strong case with a more consistent run of form over the final 10 races.

But Eddie Jordan reckons Red Bull will hire Lawson instead. Even if he finds it difficult initially, they can at least be confident that he’ll improve as he builds his experience.