Martin Brundle lets slip F1 paddock gossip about Sergio Perez's Red Bull future

06 November 2023 , 06:00

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Sergio Perez's Red Bull future remains unclear (Image: Getty Images)

Martin Brundle is convinced Sergio Perez will race for Red Bull next year regardless of how this season ends.

The team has made it clear on many occasions that it intends to honour the final year of its deal with Perez. But speculation continues to persist that the Mexican will be replaced if he cannot hang on to second place in the championship.

Despite having a much quicker car, Perez is only 32 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton with two more races to go. It looks likely to be enough of a buffer even if he cannot improve his form, but the Brit is still in with a chance of beating him to the runner-up spot.

But Brundle does not think it will make a difference to Red Bull's 2024 plans. The Sky Sports presenter shared what he had heard from his own sources regarding what these final weeks of the year will mean for Perez's immediate future.

"I'll stand by what I've said in the last couple of races," he said. "I believe Red Bull absolutely want to keep running Perez next year, and will do everything to make that happen. There is a contract in place and they don't want to change, for any number of reasons. That's what they're aiming at, at the moment.

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"I have been categorically told – by people who know – that it's not about finishing second in the championship. He certainly needs to have solid races or where is he at, in his own head, going forwards? Right now, Perez has the Red Bull seat next year. No doubt about it."

Brundle's colleague Naomi Schiff pointed out that Red Bull will need Perez to be back to his best next year if the title race is closer. "It has to be said that, although Max has dominated the season, the race behind Red Bull has been solid," she said.

"Now we've got McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari with drivers who are quite close together, in cars that are competitive. Can Red Bull afford to have a driver who isn't picking up the points, when next year might be a tighter competition?"

And Schiff thinks it is "quite realistic" that Daniel Ricciardo will be called up to replace Perez if the Mexican cannot produce the required results. She added: "At least, if you look at the Red Bull camp, the sister team, the talent they've got in their roster, he's the most likely next candidate right now.

"What he did in Mexico proves that Daniel Ricciardo is back, to an extent. The time he had at McLaren was quite miserable. We all, including himself, doubted. What happened to Daniel Ricciardo? Because he was always a great driver. Moments like that go to show that, when he's got the car, he can deliver. Red Bull will look at a result like that and think he's a definite candidate."

Daniel Moxon