Since his impressive pole position at the Miami Grand Prix in May, Sergio Perez’s performance has taken a nosedive. Despite losing out to Max Verstappen in that race, even with Verstappen starting from ninth on the grid, Perez has failed to make it into Q3 in consecutive races.
Unfortunately, Perez’s struggles have extended to race days as well. Across the Monaco, Spain, and Canada races, Perez only managed to score as the seventh-highest, earning less than one-third of his teammate’s points tally.
Jenson Button, when asked about Perez’s current situation, acknowledged the impact it has on Verstappen’s confidence. Button expressed that with three challenging weekends for Perez, there seems to be no catching up to Verstappen, who has established himself as the clear championship leader.
Button, the 2009 Formula One champion, admitted that he had expected more from Perez, particularly in the recent Canadian Grand Prix. Despite starting from 12th, Perez only managed to advance to sixth through a strategic pit stop, lacking overtaking maneuvers to make significant progress.
Regarding Perez’s seat at Red Bull, Button believes there is no immediate danger for this year. However, he acknowledges that Perez’s future at the team is uncertain beyond the current season. Button raises questions about potential replacements, including Red Bull ambassador Daniel Ricciardo and AlphaTauri drivers such as Nyck de Vries or Yuki Tsunoda.
Perez’s recent below-par performances have undoubtedly put him in a challenging position. While the decision about his future rests with Red Bull, Button sympathizes with Perez, recognizing the difficulties he has faced in the past three races.
As the Formula One season progresses, all eyes will be on Perez as he strives to regain his form and prove his worth alongside Verstappen. The upcoming races will be crucial for him to turn the tide and showcase his true potential in the highly competitive field.
