- The driver has struggled to perform this year despite being at one of top teams
- He has up until this point been backed to stage a recovery by his team boss
- Now, however, it has been suggested that a change could be made close to end
A Formula One star’s immediate future has been thrown into doubt following their latest miserable race weekend.
Christian Horner seems set to lead his side to another drivers championship in the sport through Max Verstappen, but has seen his side slide down the constructors standings through Sergio Perez, with the team now third behind both McLaren and Ferrari.
Perez is down in eighth in the drivers standings with four races of the season remaining, struggling to support Verstappen as he’s chased down by Lando Norris in the race for the title.
In Mexico at the weekend, Verstappen finished sixth in the race with Norris second as he faced two penalties for a battle between the two, while Perez and came 17th – the last of the cars to finish.
It was the latest episode of what has been a nightmare 2024 season for the 34-year-old, and his future now lies uncertain with his team.
A Formula One star’s immediate future has been thrown into doubt after his latest disappointment
Sergio Perez (right) had been backed by Red Bull boss Christian Horner though a ‘tough decision’ could be made
Red Bull are sliding down the constructors standings despite Max Verstappen (right) leading the drivers championship
‘You know, there comes a point in time that difficult decisions have to be made,’ Red Bull chief Horner said. ‘We’re now third in the constructors’ championship.
‘Our determination is to try and get back into a winning position but it’s going to be a tall order over these next four races.’
‘As a team we need both cars scoring points and that’s the nature of Formula 1,’ he added. ‘We’re working with him as hard as we can to try and support him. I think we’ve done everything that we can to support Checo and we’ll continue to do so in Brazil next weekend.
‘But there comes a point in time that you can only do so much.’
Prior to Mexico, Perez finished seventh in the United States, 10th in Singapore and failed to finish in Azerbaijan.
He is without a win this season, despite team-mate Verstappen tasting victory seven times.
If he is cut from the team, one candidate to replace him could be RB’s Liam Lawson, who clashed with his counterpart during the race.
After overtaking Perez on track, New Zealander Lawson appeared to put his middle finger up in the direction of the Mexican, who later suggested his rival has ‘the wrong attitude’ for Formula One.
Liam Lawson could be a candidate to replace the Mexican and clashed with his rival on Sunday
The New Zealander appeared to put up his middle finger in the direction of Perez on track
Lawson only joined the sport permanently this season, replacing Daniel Ricciardo a matter of races ago but impressing in his brief stint behind the wheel of a Formula One car.
He is one of just two mid-season driver changes this term, with Logan Sargeant also replaced by Franco Colapinto at Williams.
Perez signed a two-year extension to his contract earlier this year, but Horner is a big fan of Lawson and appears to be losing patience with his current driver.