F1 2023: Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat in jeopardy, Mexican GP could make or break things

After winning two out of the first five races of the 2023 Formula 1 season and securing a podium in two other, it seemed like Red Bull fans would be treated with an in-team battle as well as a tough competition between the two drivers for the Drivers’ Championship. However, the Mexican driver’s form dipped significantly thereon, with Max Verstappen going on to be crowned the World Champion for the third time in a row with six Grand Prix races left in the season.
Out of the 17 GP races that have taken place so far this season, Verstappen has managed to win 14, outscoring all other drivers on the grid. While it’s clear that the RB19 car has played a huge part in the 2023 season’s domination, Perez’s form makes it look like he isn’t even driving the same car. Even though Checo sits on second in the Drivers’ Standings with 224 points, his performance has been nowhere near to his teammate, who has 433 points.
Red Bull advisor and driver program boss Helmut Marko has revealed that Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat is in jeopardy. The statement comes just weeks after Marko called the driver ‘South American’ and saying that his ethnicity is the reason for his poor form as compared to his teammate. The Red Bull senior advisor has now suggested that Checo’s future lies elsewhere.
“My relationship with Checo is very good, he supported me enormously (after the statements). Many forget, but I brought Perez to the team, then what awaited him with Max Verstappen is what previously happened with Gasly,” Marko told OE24 Sport. “He needs a change of scenery and team. Let’s see how the next two races go, but the team and he are aware that he is in crisis,” he added.

However, the 80-year old later went on to clarify that he does not want to comment on Perez’s future with Red Bull, especially before Mexican Grand Prix – which is Checo’s home GP. “Will Perez leave Red Bull for his own sake? You don’t want to hear an answer from me on that just before the Mexican Grand Prix,” said Marko.
The Mexican driver’s contract with Red Bull runs till the end of next season, but the team is not new to ousting drivers mid-season. Red Bull demoted Pierre Gasly to Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) in 2019 after 12 rounds, while Red Bull’s second team AlphaTauri fired rookie Nyck de Vries only halfway through the 2023 F1 season, replacing him with Daniel Ricciardo.
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