Sergio Perez performance clauses come to light as Red Bull looks for an alternative: Report 

According to reports, Sergio Perez might face the Red Bull axe after his performance clause gets activated. The Mexican driver has been off-color lately and his team believes it is "unsustainable" if Checo keeps on underperforming week in and week out.

Despite starting the season formidably, Perez found it hard to keep going. After three podiums - three P2s in the first four races - Checo has failed to finish within the top five in the last six races.

Furthermore, in Monaco, Montreal and Silverstone, the 34-year-old finished outside the points and has claimed only 15 points since Miami. On the other hand, his teammate Max Verstappen has picked up a staggering 119 in the same period.

As per the sources, this decline in Perez's performance has brought the exit clause to light at Red Bull. If the conditions mentioned in the clause are not met, Red Bull can sack Checo despite his recent two-year contract extension.

The clauses in question say that Sergio Perez must not stay 100 points behind Max Verstappen in the Championship before the summer break. Moreover, the Mexican must stay P5 or better in the Drivers' Championship.

However, after the British GP, Perez (118 points) trails Verstappen (255) by 137 points and is at risk of losing his P5 position. The Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are eyeing Perez's spot with 111 and 110 points, respectively.

With only one race weekend to go before the summer break, one cannot expect Sergio Perez to trim the 137-points gap to 100. Furthermore, one more underwhelming weekend would see him drop down to P7 in the championship.

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Christian Horner: 'The situation of Sergio Perez is unsustainable'

Thanks to Max Verstappen's mighty performances, Red Bull managed to claim the 2023 Constructors' Championship with ease. However, in 2024, the defending champions, with Sergio Perez's downward trajectory, are under immense pressure from Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes.

F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 makes a pitstop during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 07, 2024 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Pointing at Perez, team principal Christian Horner said (via Autosport),

"He knows it’s unsustainable to not be scoring points. We have to be scoring points in that car and he knows that. He knows his role and his target, so nobody is more eager than Checo to find his form again."

After halfway through the season, Red Bull are in 373 points, followed by Ferrari and McLaren with 302 and 295, respectively. Mercedes with 221 points have gained formidable ground as well with two back-to-back race wins in Spielberg and Silverstone.