Helmut Marko is confident that Red Bull can help turn around Sergio Perez's lackluster form and maximize his contributions to the team in the ten remaining races of F1’s 2024 season.
Perez, who extended his contract with Red Bull in June, has faced a challenging season. Despite a solid start to his campaign, the Mexican has struggled in recent months, failing to secure a podium finish since the Chinese Grand Prix and consistently being outscored by his teammate Max Verstappen.
This string of underwhelming performances has left Perez seventh in the drivers' standings and left Red Bull deprived of precious points versus its frontrunning rivals in the Constructors’ championship.
Nevertheless, Red Bull reaffirmed during the summer break its commitment to its beleaguered driver based on its belief that it can revive Perez’s strengths and restore his confidence for the crucial second half of the season.
“We believe that we can turn it round and make it more stable for Perez,” Marko told ESPN.
“To be team mate to Max is not the nicest thing in Formula 1.Checo has his merits, he's won races.”
The Red Bull motorsport advisor also discussed the ongoing efforts within the team to improve the car's drivability, which has been a significant factor in Perez's struggles this season.
"Our discussion was not just about drivers, it was regular discussions we had of what can we do to improve the situation? We have to try to make the car more easy to drive.
"The more difficult the car is to drive, the more the difference to Max comes out because he's such an outstanding talent. If the rear steps out he won't lift the throttle, he's just, 'yeah, it's a little bit nervous,' Checo says 'it's difficult' or 'it’s undriveable.'”
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With Red Bull facing stronger competition in 2024 than in their dominant seasons of 2022 and 2023, the need for consistency and strong results from both drivers has become more pressing.
Perez, aware of the pressure, has expressed that he is "refreshed and ready to go" after the summer break and the 34-year-old is deterlined to hit the ground running this weekend at Zandvoort.
The change in his race engineer from Hugh Bird to Richard Wood, due to Bird’s impending fatherhood, is another adjustment Perez will need to adapt to quickly.
Despite the ups and downs of Perez's season, Marko remains convinced that sticking with the six-time Grand Prix winner is the best course of action for Red Bull.
“The best thing is to keep going with Checo,” he commented. “The main problem was this up and down.
"He had some very good results, very good performances, then the next day he was half a second off Max or so."
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