F1
Change of engineer for Sergio Pérez at Red Bull
Sergio Pérez - Photo: Eric Alonso / DPPI
There will be a change in Sergio Pérez's radio from Zandvoort (Netherlands) this weekend. Confirmed in his seat for the second part of the season, the Mexican will not be able to count on Hugh Bird for the next races since the latter will be going on paternity leave. He will be replaced from the Dutch Grand Prix and for an indefinite period by Richard Wood, usual performance engineer within the team. Red Bull.
« Hugh, my race engineer, is expecting a baby very soon so he will be spending some time at home and I wish him and his family good luck with their newborn, Perez said. Woody, my performance engineer, will take over in the meantime. » This will be the first time that the 34-year-old driver will be associated with a race engineer other than Hugh Bird since the two men have always worked together since Pérez's first season at Red Bull in 2021.
Czech will be keen to launch his second part of the season on much better foundations than the first six months of 2024 during which the native of Guadalajara experienced some difficulties, to the point of seeing his seat potentially in danger in the off-season. While this one was coveted by Yuki tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo or other Liam Lawson, it is indeed Pérez who will be at the wheel of the car No. 11 this weekend.
« I can't wait to get back in the car this weekend, adds Pérez. The summer break has been very important for everyone in the team and for the whole sport, with so many races everyone now needs rest and recovery time more than ever.
I spent some time in Mexico with my family, I feel rested and ready to start the second half of the season. I know my whole team feels the same, I was in Milton Keynes this week with them. I know what we can extract from the car in the coming weeks and we will do our best to maximize the second half of 2024. »
Despite an extension until 2026, Sergio Pérez must improve his performances so as not to worry once again about his future within the Austrian team.
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Valentin GLO
Journalist. Endurance reporter (WEC, IMSA, ELMS, ALMS) and sometimes F1 or IndyCar.
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
21/08/2024 at 12:12 a.m.
Can a temporary change of engineer have any influence on a driver when this engineer was already in charge of performance? More than a change in the radio, it is perhaps the summer break which will have done the greatest good for TexMex!!