Helmut Marko has reaffirmed that Sergio Perez remains the best option to finish the Formula 1 season alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, despite recent performance issues. Perez’s dip in form during the second quarter of the campaign allowed McLaren to narrow the gap in the constructors’ standings to 42 points by the summer break.
This performance slump prompted Red Bull to reassess their driver lineup, considering potential replacements such as Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, or Liam Lawson. Despite these considerations, Perez, who recently signed a two-year contract extension, retained his seat. Team boss Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko ultimately decided to continue backing the Mexican driver, maintaining stability within the team.
In a column for Red Bull-owned Speedweek, Marko highlighted that Perez is “still our best solution” given the alternatives. He emphasized that Perez needs to find more consistency, noting his promising performance in the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.
“Sergio Perez will also be in the Red Bull Racing car after the summer break because we now have races on the tracks where he was good last year and we are banking on stability,” Marko explained. “He has repeatedly shown good performances in between, and he was also very fast in third place on Saturday at the last race weekend in Spa. Perez doesn’t have to become faster, but more consistent and, given the alternatives, he is still our best solution.”
Marko also dismissed speculation that F1 owner Liberty Media influenced their driver choice. “Reports that his continued involvement is due to Liberty Media’s wish for him to drive in Mexico are not true,” he said. “They certainly want him to contest his home race, but our choice of driver is not based on Liberty’s intentions.”
Marko stated that they would make a decision on reserve driver Liam Lawson’s future in September. Lawson, who is free to find a seat elsewhere if Red Bull can’t offer him an F1 drive in 2025, will not be loaned out to rival teams.
“We will announce what will happen with Liam Lawson in September,” Marko explained. “Even if the competition would like to use him on loan, he is not available for that. Our Formula 2 driver Isack Hadjar took his fourth victory in the top formula racing class at Spa. He clearly has the potential for Formula 1. We’ll see how everything develops, but he will certainly take on a role of some kind. It could be that, like Lawson, he will spend a year as a test and simulator driver.”
Marko’s comments underscore Red Bull’s strategy of maintaining stability and developing talent within their ranks as they navigate the remainder of the F1 season.
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