Down around $8 million after being reshuffled by Ferrari in the team standings, Ralf Schumacher believes Red Bull will now “decide” to drop Sergio Perez.

And he believes it could even happen before the end of the season.

Red Bull says ‘there’s no point’ continuing with Sergio Perez

Having already branded his 2024 F1 campaign a “terrible season” as he struggles to reach the top six, let alone the podium, PérezHopes of putting an end to rumors about his future with a good result at his home race in Mexico were dashed in Saturday’s qualifying.

Severely lacking pace and blaming the brakes of his RB20, the Mexican driver qualified in 18th place and did poorly after his exit from Q1.

“It’s obviously very disappointing,” he said. “If there’s one grand prix I really want to do well, it’s this one.”

Alas, his efforts to recover on Sunday were spoiled by contact with his potential Red Bull replacement, Liam Lawson, as the two tangled on lap 18. Perez’s car suffered damage on the ground and although he finished the Grand Prix, he was 17th and last.

But while Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko says he will not judge the performance of the Mexican driver in Grand Prix Given his car lost “around 60 points of downforce”, Schumacher reckons this must be the end of the road for Pérez.

He thinks he may not even be in the car at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.

“Next year he won’t drive a single meter anyway, I’m pretty sure. I don’t even think he will finish the season,” Schumacher said Sky Germany.

“Red Bull will make a decision after this weekend. This no longer serves any purpose, neither on one side nor the other. Not even for Perez.

“The poor man is under so much pressure that he does not return home beaming with joy. It’s supposed to be fun.

“And above all, financially, it is a disaster for the team, not just for the mechanics. If you want to change something against Ferrari now, you have to change something quickly. »

Red Bull follows Ferrari after the Mexican Grand Prix, the Scuderia’s two-car podium saw them take a 25-point lead in the battle for second place in the Manufacturers’ Championship. McLaren is first, 29 points ahead of Ferrari.

Sergio Perez’s deficit to Max Verstappen exposed

The updated rankings of Drivers and Manufacturers after the Mexican Grand Prix

F1 2024: head-to-head race statistics between teammates

However, contrary to Schumacher’s opinion, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner once again stood by Pérez when speaking to the media, including PlanèteF1.com Friday in Mexico.

“Checo is our driver,” he insisted. “He is under contract for 2025. He is competitive. He’s hungry. He is not happy with where he is now. As a team, we do our best to support him.

Meanwhile, Carlos Slim Jr, whose father’s Telmex company has been one of Perez’s biggest supporters throughout his motorsport career, insists the Mexican driver is not going anywhere.

“I don’t understand why so many people have doubts,” he said. Motorsport-Total. “He has a contract, he confirmed it himself. And Christian Horner too.

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