Title: Sergio Perez’s Frustrating Friday Raises Concerns for Red Bull at Hungarian Grand Prix
Sergio Perez endured a nightmare start to the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend as a crash in the first practice session and a lock-up in the second practice session marred his Friday running. The Red Bull star’s struggles with the RB19 have raised questions about his future in the sport and put him under immense pressure.
The crash occurred just minutes into FP1 when Perez lost control of his car after running wide onto the grass. As a result, he collided with the wall, curbing his running for the day. This incident symbolized the difficulties Perez has faced throughout the season, with him missing out on Q3 in the past five races.
The recent addition of Daniel Ricciardo to Red Bull’s full-time lineup has intensified the pressure on Perez during a crucial period. Despite his contract running until the end of 2024, doubts and speculation have arisen regarding his future at the team. Red Bull’s history of driver changes, such as the Gasly-Albon swap in 2019, further adds to the uncertainty surrounding Perez’s position.
Former F1 driver Anthony Davidson analyzed Perez’s struggles after Friday’s sessions, emphasizing the detrimental impact they could have on the team’s weekend. Besides the crash, Perez suffered a significant lock-up during FP2, resulting in the destruction of a set of soft compound tires. This further complicates Red Bull’s program and adds to the team’s concerns.
The bigger problem for him, the one that’s maybe more telling that he’s under pressure is what happened with the lock-up, Davidson commented during his appearance on Sky Sports F1. That was a huge lock-up. He had to throw away that set of tires, and that really starts to impact the rest of the program at Red Bull as well. They had to chuck that set away.
Despite the challenging start to the weekend, the forecast predicts better weather for the rest of the Hungarian Grand Prix. This offers Perez an opportunity to bounce back and achieve a straightforward result in both qualifying and the race. However, if he continues to struggle, his position could become increasingly vulnerable, with Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko likely to apply more pressure on him during the summer break.
Red Bull is keen to have a second driver who can support Max Verstappen’s title aspirations. Therefore, it is vital for Perez to find a way to overcome his difficulties and contribute consistently to the team’s efforts.
As the weekend progresses, all eyes will be on Perez to see if he can deliver the performance Red Bull expects from him. The Mexican driver will undoubtedly be hoping for a strong showing to silence the critics and prove his worth. Nonetheless, the pressure is mounting, and his every move will be scrutinized, both on and off the track.
