Sergio Perez is heading into the Mexico City Grand Prix with a determination to rewrite his challenging 2024 season. The Guadalajara-born Red Bull driver, who has seen his form slump dramatically since a strong start, described his campaign as “terrible,” and he’s hoping for a turnaround on home soil.
The season began promisingly for Perez, who stood on the podium five times in the opening four races, with his last podium finish coming in April at the Chinese Grand Prix. But since then, the balance issues with his Red Bull car have plagued his performance, dropping him to eighth in the standings and leaving him as the only driver among the top four teams without a single win.
“I’ve had a terrible season, a very difficult one,” Perez admitted to the press, including Total-Motorsport.com. “It started really well, but it’s been really, really difficult. For me, a strong result could definitely change my season massively in terms of personal feeling, so I’m really up for it.”
The Mexican star acknowledges that his struggles aren’t only about poor results but about his ongoing difficulty to “unlock the full potential” of his car. Perez’s performance has led to speculation over his future with Red Bull, as he faces potential threats from rising talents like Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson. Rumors have circulated that Red Bull management, including Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, might consider Oscar Piastri or George Russell as possible replacements.
Though Perez has faced these pressures before, he remains focused on solving his current challenges. “I’m in the same boat as the team, and we’re working towards solving it,” he explained, referencing progress made after identifying issues in Monza. “This is F1. Sometimes the results aren’t there, and you just have to make sure you keep your head down. You focus on the stuff you can control, and the rest is something you cannot get bothered with.”
Perez’s gap to Verstappen now stands at a massive 204 points, with just a handful of races left in the season. A strong showing at the Mexico City GP could offer Perez a much-needed boost—and perhaps rekindle his position within Red Bull for the future.
