Being teammates with Max Verstappen has never been easy, and Helmut Marko hinted that Sergio Perez will have to work hard to keep his seat, as RB F1 Team drivers will fight to get it.
After a dominant season for Verstappen, his Mexican teammate managed to keep his seat despite struggling for the whole year. Perez clinched P2 in the standings, which allowed him to drive for Red Bull for another year. However, his contract expires at the end of this season, and Marko explained what the Mexican needs to do to extend his contract.
“Checo has to deliver consistent performance, it is clear he can’t always drive at Verstappen’s level,” he told Klienezeitung.
“If he comes second in the World Championship, and gets one or two wins, he will certainly be [a contender] for 2025.
“The seat [alongside Verstappen] is, on the one hand, highly sought after, but on the other hand, it is an ejector seat as no team-mate can hold a candle to Max, and it can quickly become demoralizing.”
Marko continued by saying that Red Bull won’t consider Alexander Albon as he still has a contract with Williams for 2025. Probably, not even Carlos Sainz is on the team’s list, as he might want to make a decision earlier than the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Furthermore, he added that both Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda might get a promotion if they show good results.
“For both [Ricciardo and Tsunoda], it is not just about staying in Formula 1, but also about the possibility of promotion.
“This applies to the person who clearly dominates the season within the team.”