Sergio Perez exits qualifying in Hungary with a disappointing sixteenth place. The difficulties continue for the Mexican who will once again have to move up the grid to at least try to reach the points zone. A climb that may not be enough for him to save himself: Red Bull in these last two races before the summer break he wants to understand whether or not it is better to focus on Perez for the second half of the season. At the moment the results are not encouraging. There are many difficulties and Red Bull is no longer willing to pass over them. At Spa the team will make its choice.
Less than seven minutes before the end of Q1, Perez, who was in ninth position at the time, lost control of his RB20, crashing violently into the barriers. The accident forced Perez to end qualifying early, relegating him to sixteenth starting position.
Perez knows he can no longer make mistakes
Perez tried to explain the accident immediately after qualifications in Hungary: “It was really, really bad timing. I think it was just raining a little harder in that particular part at that time. When I turned I hit the curb a bit on the wet side. Unfortunately I ended up losing the car on the way in, quite late into the corner and from then on I basically just became a passenger.” Perez knows that he cannot afford further mistakes, especially considering the delicate moment that Red Bull is going through. “I think we just need a clean weekend, clean conditions, not this variability, just to get the most out of it.”
Perez, after Spa Red Bull will evaluate his future
This mistake comes at a particularly critical time for Perez. His performance is under review by the team, with Helmut Marko who did not hide the hypothesis of a possible replacement before the summer break. The fifteen points scored in the last six races and the renewal of his contract, which occurred just a month ago, no longer seem sufficient to guarantee his stay in the Milton Keynes team. The next races will be decisive for Perez who must demonstrate that he can contribute to the team's success.
Before the weekend in Hungary, word had spread in the paddock regarding a clause in Perez's contract which allows Red Bull to review the position of the Mexican driver if his gap from Verstappen exceeds 100 points at two points: before the summer break or at the end of the championship. The same Helmut Marko in commenting on Perez's accident in qualifying in Hungary he explained that Red Bull will decide Perez's future immediately after Spa, in a week.
The latest statements from Helmut Marko and Christian Horner are a clear signal of the need for rapid improvement.
“We are waiting for the next race Spa, after which we will make a decision on its future” – this is the rather stinging verdict of Helmut Marko, Red Bull super consultant. We will therefore see if Perez will be able to respond with facts or if from the Dutch GP alongside Max Verstappen there will be another driver to wear the blue jacket.
