Red Bull boss Helmut Marko has delivered a scathing truth bomb on Sergio Perez.
The Mexican star has, like the rest of the F1 grid, struggled to keep up with his teammate Max Verstappen.
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Verstappen has blitzed the field and recorded a historic 10th straight victory after crossing the line first at the Italian Grand Prix.
It marked Red Bull’s 15th consecutive win having won all 14 so far this season and the final race of the 2022 season.
The last race not won by a Red Bull driver came in Brazil on November 13 when Mercedes’ George Russell edged out teammate Lewis Hamilton.
After starting the 2023 season with two wins apiece, Perez lost touch with Verstappen, faltering badly as the pressure on him ramped up.
While he finished second at Monza, he has looked a shadow of the driver than won races in Saudi Arabia and in Azerbaijan at the start of the season.
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher stated Perez’s “days at Red Bull are numbered” and a “separation agreement” is in place that could see him depart the team early.
Those rumours fuelled speculation Australian star Daniel Ricciardo could return to partner up with Verstappen in the Red Bull seat.
Team principal Christian Horner stated the Aussie is a genuine option to replace Perez provided he proves he’s still got it with AlphaTauri.
But it’s a former Ricciardo teammate who Marko is eyeing off as the number one option to throw in alongside Verstappen, McLaren’s Lando Norris.
It is news that spells danger for Ricciardo’s hopes of a potential return to the top team.
While the McLaren star is currently contracted through until the end of 2025, Marko said he is a viable option and delivered some brutal truth bombs for Perez.
“He is definitely a candidate for us. At Toro Rosso, we had already reached an agreement with him at the time, until his manager realised there was an option for a McLaren contract. In terms of youth and speed, he would suit us very well. Sergio, on the other hand, is already over 30 and is expecting his fourth child. So he also has other interests, so you have to see what happens next,” Marko said on ServusTV.
“Perez is not consistent, he is not always focused.”
The seat alongside Verstappen in easily the most dominant car on the grid isn’t as sought after as one would think. It was here where Marko finally gave Perez some praise.
“On the one hand, the seat in Red Bull is one of the most wanted, but on the other hand, you also have Max Verstappen as an opponent. You then need a very strong personality and also mentality. Perez is the one who has done the best of all drivers in recent years and also won races.”
While Norris is arguably one of the most talented drivers on the grid, it’s hard to see why McLaren would let him depart his contract early to join Red Bull.
It’s why many are still of the belief the best man to partner alongside Verstappen is his former teammate, Daniel Ricciardo.
After being teammates from 2016 to 2018, Ricciardo has been dubbed as the perfect driver to sit alongside the two-time champion.
Former three-time Le Mans class winner David Kennedy believes Ricciardo is best placed to handle being alongside Verstappen.
“It is the toughest role in the world to be the teammate of someone of that outstanding ability,” he said to PlanetF1.
“There are very, very few, in my experience, that could handle that. Who comes to mind is Eddie Irvine. Eddie sat alongside, ostensibly, one of the best racing drivers ever [Michael Schumacher]. And could, every time, get out there and really push and get within a whisper of Schumacher.
“I think this is a real difficult situation now that [Red Bull] find themselves in and so, would Daniel be the man to sit in there?
“I always thought he is such a solid player. He might not have that magic dust that Verstappen has, but he is so incredibly close that he would be the perfect teammate. Someone who is tough as nuts and can accept that somebody can out-qualify him by that fraction.
“Because, if you’re a smart racer, you can still win races.”
