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Helmut Marko has said that Red Bull stuck by Sergio Pérez because the team feels its car has become too difficult for him to drive and that a turnaround in form is just around the corner.
Pérez’s future was under intense speculation coming into F1’s August summer break and most inside the paddock believed he was set to be replaced by either RB’s Daniel Ricciardo or Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson.
Following a meeting after the Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull announced Pérez will remain Max Verstappen‘s teammate beyond the break.
Racing advisor Marko hinted that the team is looking at changes it can make to help Pérez from the Dutch Grand Prix onwards.
“We believe that we can turn it round and make it more stable for him,” Marko told ESPN. “To be teammate to Max is not the nicest thing in Formula One. Checo has his merits, he’s won races.
“Our discussion was not just about drivers, it was regular discussions we had of what can we do to improve the situation? We have to try to make the car more easy to drive.
“The more difficult the car is to drive, the more the difference to Max comes out because he’s such an outstanding talent. If the rear steps out he won’t lift the throttle, he’s just, ‘yeah, it’s a little bit nervous,’ Checo says ‘it’s difficult’ or ‘its undriveable.’
“So to be next to Max is a different story. So we said let’s try to make the car more easy to drive, get more balance, which is also something Max wants, and the best thing is to keep going with Checo and hope that he … the main problem was this up and down.
“He had some very good results, very good performances, then the next day he was half a second off Max or so.”
Sources have told ESPN the team is considering taking Pérez back to the car spec from the early part of the year — he finished second behind Verstappen at four of the opening five races, only for his form to spiral from then on.
On the decision to stick with Pérez, Marko added: “It was a clear statement from the shareholders that Racing Bulls is a junior team and this route will be how the future will look.”
Before all the speculation over his future, Pérez signed a contract extension for 2025 with Red Bull.
Assuming Pérez sees out that contract, Ricciardo and Lawson appear to now be vying for the same seat at the RB team.
“Daniel was put in the car and if he would have been significantly faster than Yuki there was an idea to bring him back to Red Bull Racing,” Marko said. “But he also had this up and down. So, so far, he didn’t fulfil the criteria to be a Red Bull Racing driver.”
Lawson impressed Red Bull last year during three stand-in appearances after Ricciardo broke his hand at the Dutch Grand Prix, but was kept on the sidelines for 2024.
Sources have said Lawson needs to have a decision on his future by late September or he can contractually look elsewhere beyond the Red Bull programme.
Marko hinted a decision on Lawson’s next step with the company is on the horizon.
“It’s a tough time for someone like Liam, especially as he jumped into the car under very, very difficult circumstances and did very well. We rate him high and he will get his chance. Just wait. September, you will have an answer.”