Sergio Perez’s home race at the Mexican Grand Prix ended in a nightmare, leaving his future with Red Bull in serious doubt. Starting from 18th on the grid, Perez collected a penalty for a false start and was involved in multiple incidents with other drivers, finishing last and adding further strain to his already turbulent season.
Red Bull now finds itself third in the Constructors’ Championship, having lost second place to Ferrari, despite Max Verstappen’s commanding lead in the Drivers’ standings. When asked about Perez’s future with the team, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner’s response offered little reassurance for the embattled driver. “You know, there comes a point in time that difficult decisions have to be made,” Horner said. “Our determination is to try and get back into a winning position, but it’s going to be a tall order over these next four races.”
Horner described Perez’s weekend as “horrible” and was candid about Perez’s underperformance, stressing that “Formula 1 is a results-based business.” With just four races left in the season, Horner confirmed Perez would race in Brazil next weekend but didn’t dispel speculation of a potential lineup change for the season’s final three rounds.
“We’re working with him as hard as we can,” Horner added, “but there comes a point in time that you can only do so much.”
As Red Bull fights to reclaim its position in the Constructors’ Championship, Perez faces mounting pressure, with his home crowd potentially witnessing his last F1 race for Red Bull. The upcoming Brazilian GP could be a final lifeline for Perez, whose future at Red Bull appears to hinge on his ability to turn around his faltering form.
