Sergio Perez notes summer break meet was not to decide his F1 future, as Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda opine.
While they went into summer break with claims of discussions about the Red Bull future of Perez for rest of the 2024 F1 season. Both Christian Horner and Helmut Marko kind of noted that they will talk about it along with the overall performance of the car.
Red Bull didn’t readily share a press note, but confirmed the stay of Perez via media portals by releasing an unofficial statement. The confirmation of the Mexican meant both Ricciardo and Tsunoda would stay at Visa Cash App RB for rest of 2024 F1 season.
Both kind of expected it to happen. Perez, meanwhile, reiterated that it was pure speculation and that the meet wasn’t about his F1 future. He is focused on getting through the season. His teammate Verstappen was pleased to put an end to the speculation.
Tsunoda reckons it is not new for him as he has been proving to Red Bull for years now. As for Ricciardo, he’s focused on retaining his Visa Cash App RB seat for 2025 and remaining in the Red Bull family. He also shares his views on the Liam Lawson rumour.
“It was mainly pure speculation,” said Perez. “I think the meeting had nothing to do with the drivers, it was all about the performance. I already said everything I had to regarding speculation. I’m here, fully committed to the team. I have got a contract for the next two years, and I’m fully committed to Red Bull, to turn things around – I’ve said everything I have to.”
Red Bull family say –
Verstappen: “I mean, naturally, of course, I get on really well with Checo, right? So I’m happy for him also that maybe these kind of doubts are gone. For me, what I’m very focused on is just improving the car, having more performance. That’s what I’ve been thinking about. You know, talking to the team as well, how to move forward from that. So that has been my worry. as well at the same time. Well, people are, of course, talking about other things. So yeah, just happy to be here again and focus on driving.”
Tsunoda: “Yeah, I mean, those things, it’s the same thing as the last three years. You know, if you want to prove not just to Red Bull but to other teams. So those things is just the same, same as usual. I mean, there’s a lot of speculation, but… The things I’ll do are the same and it’s not in my control anyway. So I’ll try my best and I’ll focus on what I can do and what I can focus.”
Ricciardo: “Look, I didn’t rule it out. For sure, I don’t want to say: ‘Oh no, I never thought that.’ I thought maybe something could happen, but I also didn’t expect it or get my hopes up. I was aware that maybe something changes, but let’s just do what I’m doing and if I get a call I get a call, so that was that. Obviously I didn’t get a call, but also that was probably where I’d mentally prepared myself more than: ‘Oh, this is it now, this is going to happen.’ So pretty unchanged. I mean I didn’t receive the call to be like, ‘hey, what’s up, you’re changing’. But no, of course, I still speak. Obviously that week after Spa, it was still not shut down, so we were still able to work. And I had a filming day, so I also spoke to the team after that. But yeah, as of, let’s say, moving forward, I think it’s clear that since Montreal, I’ve done more of what was probably expected of me, results-wise. So it’s just very much keep doing that, keep kind of, let’s say, performing at the level we know you can. And things will work itself out. So it’s, yeah, performance is everything. Obviously I got to keep on it myself and that helps my chances of obviously staying on the grid.”
Red Bull family stay –
Ricciardo: “Just here. I’m most happy being back here. Speaking of performance, it’s nice not looking elsewhere or having maybe other little distractions, because I can just focus on this. It’s an all-in approach, but I think that approach will also get the most out of me. And if that is still not enough, then c’est la vie. I think that intensifies it, but also simplifies it, so I think it’s the best approach. It’s not coming from a stubborn place, but I don’t really want to be anywhere else either. I’m not going to say everyone’s calling me: ‘Hey, well if this doesn’t work, we’ve got something for you.’ But I think also I’ve been quite open about not wanting to [stay within the Red Bull system]. I’ve obviously done a bit of jumping around the last few years and that, in itself, can be tiring. I feel like I’ve worked my way back to this place and also Red Bull has given me the opportunity to be back here, so it’s not something I just want to dismiss and say: ‘OK, well, what’s next?’
“There is no next thing for me. This is it. I’m appreciative of what they’ve been able to give me now and I really just want to try and make it work with them. Also, I can’t be like: ‘hey guys, this is enough, come on!’, I appreciate that and over the course of the first half of the season, my performances got better in that last part. So it is definitely better, but I can’t say that this is definitely enough. I know that if I continue to do this over the next few races, then I could like: ‘this is the real me now’ and I would have proven that over a course of races. But it is probably subjective to say that it is enough, maybe it feels like this, maybe not. I am not going to make a song and dance and be like: ‘I’ve been the best’. I’ve just got to do something about it and just keep doing my thing.”
Lawson news –
Ricciardo: “It’s okay. I still know that performance is my best friend and if I do what I know I am capable of, then that puts me in a good position to stay somewhere in the family for next year, I’ve just got to focus on that. Speaking about Liam, he got to drive the car last year and he did a great job, and I do think he is worthy of a seat on the grid, so, in a way I am happy with it, if he is guaranteed a seat on the grid next year, that is good because he is a deserving driver. What that means for me is probably a little unknown, but if I perform, then I am sure they’ll find a spot for me somewhere.”
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Here’s Christian Horner baring it all
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Here’s Helmut Marko on no role of Liberty Media in Sergio Perez decision
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