Red Bull boss dismisses rumors about Sergio Perez’s extended stay in the team - “Our choice of driver is not based on Liberty Media's intentions”

After several weeks of speculations, Red Bull Racing has confirmed Sergio Perez as their second driver after the summer break. However, director Helmut Marko shared a cryptic message about the Mexican driver's future via an article on Speedweek.com.

Perez had a great start to his 2024 Formula 1 season with RBR, finishing four of the first five races on the podium (second place in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Japan and third position in China). However, the 34-year-old racer's season took a 180-degree turn after the weekend in Imola (Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix).

Since then, Perez has struggled to keep up with his teammate Max Verstappen. With two back-to-back DNFs at Monaco and Canada and five consecutive finishes outside the top 5, several F1 pundits and fans questioned the Mexican driver's future with the Austrian outfit.

Despite the odds stacked against him, Red Bull Racing recently confirmed Perez's seat with the team after the ongoing summer break. However, this only seems like a temporary relief for the #11 driver, as Marko has now said:

"Pérez doesn't have to get faster, but more consistent. And it is still our best solution in view of the alternatives. Reports that his continued commitment is due to Liberty Media's request that he drive in Mexico are not true. They certainly want him to contest his home race, but our driver choice is not based on Liberty's intentions."

With a sword still hanging over his head, Perez will most likely need to prove his mettle in the upcoming races after the break.

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Helmut Marko opens up about potential replacement candidate for Sergio Perez - "He clearly has the potential"

Although Sergio Perez's Formula 1 seat in Red Bull Racing is confirmed for the time being, Helmut Marko recently opened up about his potential replacement candidates. The former Austrian race car driver spoke highly about Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar in his exclusive Speedweek.com article.

Marko confirmed that the team will make an announcement regarding Lawson's future in September, most likely during the weekend in Monza.

"It had been planned for some time that he would be able to gain further Formula 1 experience kilometres in Imola. Even if the competition would like to use him on loan, he is not available for that," he said.

Meanwhile, the Red Bull chief is also looking at the progress of Hadjar in the ongoing Formula 2 season. He explained about the young French driver's future with RBR:

"He clearly has the potential for Formula 1. We'll see how everything develops, but he'll certainly play some role. It may be, for example, that he will complete a year as a test and simulator driver, just like Lawson."

As for Perez, he currently stands in seventh position in the 2024 Drivers' Championship, about 146 points adrift of his teammate and leader Max Verstappen.