Why Pérez's poor performance at Imola raises a headache at Red Bull

In 2022, the decline of Sergio Pérez began after his retirement from the Austrian Grand Prix, in the middle of the season. In 2023, this began after a catastrophic weekend in Monaco, letting escape Max Verstappen in the championship. This year, will this decline start from the 7th round of the season, at Imola? Unfortunately for the pilot Red Bull, the signs are pointing in this direction at the end of a weekend that we would describe as complicated for the Mexican in Italy.

Exit from the track during EL3, elimination from Q2, passage into the gravel trap (all alone, like a grown-up!) in the race and a distant 8th place, 54 seconds behind his winning teammate for the 5th time in 2024: Sergio Pérez had all the difficulty in the world finding performance this weekend, far from the capabilities of the Red Bull RB20. On a route as demanding and uncompromising as that of Imola, where confidence is the key, “Checo” seemed to be cruelly lacking…

Imola, a simple mistake on the route?

However, the start of the season for the No. 11 had started rather well, with very decent performances: although he did not manage to achieve the slightest victory, or even beat his teammate in races (with the exception of the Grand Prix of Australia, where Max Verstappen retired), the 34-year-old driver still obtained four podiums (including three 2nd places to complete three Red Bull doubles) and had finished in the Top 5 at each meeting (Sprint included ) before that of Imola.

Would the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix already mark a turning point in Sergio Pérez's season? In the Red Bull clan, we prefer to talk about an accident before worrying. “I think he's had a much better start to the season, except this weekend, which was an anomaly, assures Christian Horner, director of the Austrian team. He was very, very strong. I think his approach is more relaxed, less focused on what Max is doing, but more on himself. And I think he responded well to that. »

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There’s nothing quite like a " anomaly ", this is also the excuse put forward by Sergio Pérez, who deplored at Imola a position on the grid that was compromising for the race. “It was overall the maximum that was achievable given our starting position. We took a risk, we knew that it would be a very risky strategy, which was not the most favorable strategy. We dreamed of a safety car at the right time for us. (…) I think it's just a one-off mistake, even if the weekend was solid until qualifying. »

Another long season for Pérez and Red Bull

A one-off error, perhaps, but this poor performance relaunches a subject that we thought was almost closed after reading the first results of the season: will Sergio Pérez keep his seat at Red Bull in 2025? If the solid results of the first rounds of the year had almost cooled the other tracks, and heated up that of an extension for the Mexican, the events at Imola could completely reshuffle the cards. Because it’s not just Sergio Pérez in this situation…

The closeness of the competition is more and more visible and threatening for Red Bull: McLaren et Classic Ferrari for sale are now able to fight for victory against Max Verstappen. The quarter mark of the season (only) was reached at Imola, and the Austrian team is “only” 56 points ahead of the Reds, and 114 over the Papayas. A mattress that's not that comfortable, when you know that there are still 17 Grands Prix (and 4 Sprints) left on the calendar! Can Red Bull still afford to have a second knife as irregular as Sergio Pérez in the quest for the Constructors' title, especially in the face of more complete duos among the competition?

A coveted seat… internally

Another point not to forget: this second Red Bull seat is coveted by drivers who never stop performing. In Imola, Yuki tsunoda showed himself to be very solid aboard his Racing Bulls, notably with a 7th place in qualifying. As the weekends go by, the Japanese position himself more and more as a credible candidate to replace the Mexican, while Daniel Ricciardo – despite a start in Miami – is still floundering in trouble. Carlos Sainz also keep an eye on this seat: the Spaniard, who is still evaluating his options for 2025, remains in contact with his teammate Charles Leclerc and scored big points for Ferrari, not forgetting his victory in Australia.

So many elements which pose a serious headache for Red Bull, which is still looking for the best profile in 2025 to not only support Max Verstappen in his quest for the world title, but also to win a new title among the Manufacturers. The Dutchman may be impressive from weekend to weekend, but his simple contribution to the team ranking will certainly not be enough in the years, or even months to come.

The return to favor of McLaren and Ferrari threatens Red Bull hegemony, and the Austrian team could take strong decisions to remedy this. And Sergio Pérez could well be among the first to pay the price. For the Mexican, the best solution will be an immediate rebound from the next meeting, in Monaco: renowned for his ease on city circuits, “Checo” will have to have a clean, but above all solid, weekend to silence speculation. around its future. In the streets of the Principality, the Mexican has already won in 2022. Will he be able to repeat the feat in 2024? That's all the bad we wish him...

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