Red Bull 'desperately needs' Pérez to counter Mercedes

A Red Bull lonely face of two Mercedes, a daring strategic bet by the reigning world champions, an imperial comeback of Lewis Hamilton, who crucifies Max Verstappen in the final laps thanks to an unstoppable tire advantage.

Christian Horner could not suppress a feeling of déjà vu when reading the scenario of the last Spanish Grand Prix. Because it looks very similar to that of Hungary 2019, with another major point in common: the absence of the second Red Bull in the debates…

In Budapest that day, Pierre Gasly had spent his afternoon in the exhausts of the McLaren de Carlos Sainz, and sealed his fate in Milton Keynes (United Kingdom), which sent him home Toro Rosso a week later. 

A priori, Sergio Pérez, the replacement for Gasly's replacement, should not suffer the same fate straight away (although, you never know with the trigger-happy dezincutters of the Red Bull...)

Nevertheless, the Mexican is on a slippery slope whose outcome we know in the Red Bull fold with well-identified stage points: “ He has just arrived, he is getting his bearings »-« He is more and more in rhythm »-« We need him in front ". The next step is usually the door.  

Slowed by shoulder pain in qualifying, Pérez started from a modest 8th place last Sunday in Barcelona (Spain). Author of a good start, the former Racing Point driver then struggled for a long time with the McLaren of Daniel Ricciardo, which he finally managed to pass at the cost of a nice overtaking. 

The Mexican was, however, too far from the race lead to cover the back of his teammate and designated leader, Verstappen. If Pérez moved higher in the hierarchy, Hamilton would not have been able to make his offbeat strategy and his second surprise stop work as easily. 

« Things are falling into place for him, Horner politely confided Sunday evening. He had a day without Saturday and found himself stuck behind Daniel. He failed to progress on a track where it is complicated to overtake. 

We desperately need him in this pit stop window so Mercedes doesn't have different strategic options. I am convinced that Checo's time will come as he gains confidence ».

Horner vented his frustration in a post-race radio message. “ Unfortunately as in Hungary they had a free stop, they had all the options », sighed the main Red Bull Racing team. The British manager says this was not a criticism of Pérez. 

« The facts are very clear and show that Checo was held, Horner explained. The two leading drivers enjoyed such a lead that Lewis was able to make a free pit-stop, as he had been able to do in Hungary. 

He only had to pass his teammate, which was never going to be a problem. This is why we need to have both cars in front, to deprive Mercedes of a strategic alternative ». 

Pérez, whose rating was higher than ever after his victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, only has one year left on his contract with Red Bull. And discover each weekend a little more how complicated it is to team up with Verstappen.