Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko says that Sergio Perez’s performances will be evaluated during Formula 1's upcoming summer break.
Perez’s future with Red Bull potentially hinges on the next two races, in Hungary and in Belgium.
According to reports, Perez’s recently signed two-year extension with Red Bull includes a performance clause by which the latter may terminate the Mexican’s contract if his deficit to teammate Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ standings exceeds 100 points.
Perez is currently a daunting 137 points adrift from the Dutchman in the standings.
It is believed that another clause suggests a requirement for Perez to be within five positions of Verstappen in the overall standings. While he currently holds sixth place, both Mercedes drivers are within striking distance, adding pressure to the Mexican’s situation.
Marko, known for his blunt pronouncements, suggested that exit clauses in F1 contracts are nothing out of the ordinary, particularly for top drivers.
“All Formula 1 contracts have exit clauses, most of them related to performance or let’s say for the top drivers," Marko told GrandPrix247.
"As I mentioned before, we will have an evaluation during the summer break and then we will make a decision."
With Perez's future uncertain, speculation has already begun regarding potential replacements. Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson has emerged as a frontrunner.
Lawson, who made his F1 debut last year with AlphaTauri (now RB), was earmarked for a test on Thursday at Silverstone onboard Red Bull’s current-spec RB20. The Kiwi will be in action again at Spa, after the Belgian Grand Prix.
“First we have to see. Lawson is testing at Silverstone on Thursday,” Marko said, addressing Lawson’s prospects.
“And yeah, so two more races and there will be more outings with Lawson. There’s also Yuki Tsunoda who is doing very well.”
As the best performing driver at RB where he races alongside eight-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo, Tsunoda is amidst his strongest season yet in F1.
The Japanese driver has clearly elevated his performance, largely due to a calmer and more composed approach to race weekends, which is evident in the 24-year-old's more measured and less frantic radio communication.
“We had a lot of arguments with Yuki, we also brought him together with a mental trainer because firstly, shouting was stupid and then he was getting slower,” Marko explained.
“That’s what worried me most. We taught him: If you tell an engineer the car is shit… What should he do?”
“You must give detailed technical information. You have to concentrate and find out exactly what the problems are.
“It’s basically if you talk to Yuki privately he’s not shouting, but he has an aggressive way of talking.”
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