Red Bull under pressure

After the home debacle! Is Perez already being replaced?

Will Sergio Perez finish the Formula 1 season?(Bild: AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Jared C. Tilton)

Will Sergio Perez have to vacate his Red Bull cockpit before the end of the season? While this scenario was long considered out of the question, despite the lack of results, there could now be a quick turnaround. Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher is certain: "The racing team has to react, otherwise there is a risk of disaster."

Away from the track, Perez was celebrated in his home country as if he were still fighting for the world championship title himself. But not even the unconditional support of the Mexican fans could change his current plight. Instead, the 34-year-old experienced a debacle in his home race of all places.

The entire season has not gone according to plan. Perez is performing far below expectations. Although he has repeatedly shown himself to be combative, nobody believes that he will continue to drive alongside Max Verstappen next year. The performance in Mexico has further exacerbated the situation. 

No clear commitment
"Red Bull will make a decision after this weekend. It doesn't make sense any more, not for either side. Not even for Perez. The poor man is under so much pressure, he's not going home beaming with joy," said Schumacher on Sky, pleading for an end to the dilemma.

Especially as there is still a lot on the agenda for the racing team this year: "It should also be fun. And above all financially, this is a disaster for the team, not just for the mechanics. If you want to change something now against Ferrari, then you have to change something quickly," says the expert.

Will there actually be a premature separation? In any case, the situation is being discussed internally and the statements made recently by team boss Christian Horner have not sounded like a clear commitment.