Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull hangs by a thread after a nightmare 2024 season—but Guenther Steiner has sounded a chilling warning: if Perez goes, sponsors might leave in droves.
Perez’s Financial Power: A Golden Ticket for Red Bull?
Since joining Red Bull in 2021, Sergio “Checo” Perez has brought more than just skill to the team—he’s brought a flood of sponsorship dollars. The Mexican driver’s partnerships with major brands have pumped millions into the Milton Keynes outfit. However, with Perez’s disastrous 2024 performances leaving Red Bull frustrated, rumors of his imminent sacking are heating up.
Ex-Haas boss Guenther Steiner believes that ousting Perez could set off a financial chain reaction Red Bull may regret.
“A driver normally has personal service agreements (PSAs) with sponsors of his own,” Steiner explained. “If Red Bull sacks him, those sponsors could pack their bags and walk out alongside him. Why would they stay if their driver isn’t behind the wheel?”
Steiner: “Perez Could Flip the Script on Red Bull”
Steiner didn’t mince his words when dissecting the sponsor-driver relationship. If Red Bull forces Perez out, he could call on his loyal sponsors to leave, framing Red Bull as the villain that ended his career.
“Checo could easily say, ‘Guys, you made my life difficult here. Now I’m unemployed, and my sponsors aren’t paying me. Why would they pay me if I’m not racing?’”
In short, cutting Perez loose could mean a sponsorship vacuum for Red Bull—a scenario no top-tier team wants to face.
Is Red Bull Pressuring Perez to Jump First?
Amid the storm of rumors, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has remained cryptic on Perez’s future. But Steiner speculates that Horner might already be pushing Perez toward the exit door—on his own terms.
“How Christian spoke, I think he tried to send Checo a message saying, ‘Hey, resign,’” Steiner revealed. “If Perez resigns, Red Bull could pay him the full amount he’s owed, just like they did when they parted ways with Daniel Ricciardo.”
It’s a cold, calculated business strategy. A resignation would save Red Bull the PR nightmare of publicly sacking a fan-favorite driver while keeping their wallet intact.
Why Perez is on the Brink of the Axe
Perez’s downfall has been brutal. The 2024 season exposed a staggering gap between the Mexican and his dominant teammate, who continued to outperform and dominate the grid. Red Bull’s patience has worn thin after multiple chances to close the performance gap failed.
For a team obsessed with perfection, second-best is no longer acceptable—even for a driver with immense commercial value.
Who Could Replace Checo? Red Bull’s Next Move
If Red Bull does drop the hammer on Perez, the spotlight immediately shifts to his replacement. Rumors suggest Milton Keynes is already exploring its options, looking for a driver who can match their championship-winning machinery’s pace.
Yet the bigger question looms: will Red Bull’s sponsor empire remain intact without Perez? Or will they face the financial fallout of axing a driver who brought more than just results to the table?
Perez’s Dilemma: A Fighter with Few Options
For Perez, the situation is dire. Once a crucial asset to Red Bull’s title charges, his 2024 slump has placed his F1 future in jeopardy. However, with millions in sponsor backing and fan support, Perez still holds some power in the negotiation room.
Will Red Bull cut the cord, or will Checo walk away on his own terms? Either way, a storm is brewing—and its financial aftershocks could hit Red Bull hard.