F1 winner underlines Red Bull risk in Perez loyalty

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Red Bull needs sideline Sergio Perez in order to preserve second-place in the constructors’ championship.

The three-time grand prix winner also voiced the opinion that the call should have already been made.

Perez has struggled for most of the 2024 F1 season. Without a podium finish since the fifth round, in April, the Mexican driver enters his home race weekend under considerable pressure to perform.

Whilst Max Verstappen leads the drivers’ standings, Perez has been unable to play a supporting role. The 34-year-old sits eighth in the table, 204 points adrift of his team-mate.

With the RB20 proving a pale imitation of its predecessor, Red Bull has slipped to second in the constructors’ race.

40 points behind leaders McLaren, the Milton Keynes team now looks more likely to slip to third – behind Ferrari eight points back – than win a third-consecutive title.

Assessing the need for Red Bull to take action, Herbert zeroed in on addressing its driver line up to prevent falling further back.

“Red Bull are potentially going to lose second place in the constructors’ because they’ve only got one man doing the job again…,” the 60-year-old told Gentings.

“Sergio is delivering but not quite delivering enough, so do they replace him now?

“I think yes, if they’re trying to keep that second place in the constructors… They need to do it sooner rather than later if they are going to do it. For me, it should have happened earlier.”

Tsunoda over Lawson

As for who would replace him, Herbert would like to see Yuki Tsunoda get the nod.

The RB driver has often been overlooked in conversations over potential options to partner Verstappen at Red Bull and has seldom appeared to be in the team’s thinking in that regard.

Liam Lawson has been jettisoned in to take over Daniel Ricciardo’s seat and stands the best chance of being promoted to the main team, but Herbert feels the Japanese driver has “earned” the opportunity.

“For me, it’s Yuki Tsunoda who should come in,” he explained. “I think Yuki has done a brilliant job this year. He’s very consistent as well. His qualifying has been very, very strong…

“I’d like to see someone like Yuki get that chance because I think he’s earned it. Being up against Max is a very tough job, but I think from his consistency I see, maybe he won’t be as quick as Max, but I think he’ll be not too far behind.”

Herbert pointed out how the evidence is stacked against Perez, highlighting how successful mid-season switched have proven to be this year, including at RB.

“Other teams have made a switch this season and it is working,” he added.

“Liam Lawson seems to have that natural ability to just jump in. And the other one who’s very impressive as well and just seems to actually be getting stronger is Franco Colapinto.”