Sergio Perez has voiced concerns regarding the recent upgrades to the Red Bull RB20, suggesting that they have negatively impacted his performance. The 34-year-old driver asserts that his growing gap behind teammate Max Verstappen is primarily due to a diminished confidence in the vehicle. This season has proven particularly challenging for Perez, as he grapples with adapting to the evolving dynamics of his car.
Over the past two seasons, Perez has encountered significant difficulties, struggling to maximize his car’s potential. Since the start of 2023, Verstappen has outpaced him by an astonishing margin of over 500 points. Last year, when Red Bull reigned supreme, Perez’s challenges did not notably affect the team’s standings. However, this season presents a stark contrast, as Ferrari and McLaren have emerged as formidable contenders for the championship, thanks to their impressive mid-season enhancements.
The situation is compounded by the fact that other leading teams now boast closely matched driver line-ups, which amplifies Perez’s difficulties with the RB20. In a candid reflection, he remarked, “It started very well—one of my best starts to a season—until the upgrades began to come in. That’s when things became complicated. It’s been tough driving a car that lacks confidence.”
The scrutiny surrounding Red Bull’s updates has been intense in 2024. Unlike previous years, their mid-season development has seen limited progress. The latest update, which was introduced during the race in Austin, marked the first significant improvement since April’s Japanese Grand Prix. After a promising performance in Azerbaijan, where Perez managed to keep pace with Verstappen, he felt his critiques regarding the RB20’s development were validated. Yet, subsequent races in Singapore and Austin largely undermined his position, making it harder for him to attribute his struggles to the car’s upgrades.
As young driver Liam Lawson continues to establish himself as a potential candidate for a Red Bull seat in 2025, Perez’s situation grows more precarious. To solidify his standing within the team, he needs to demonstrate a marked improvement in performance—something he hasn’t achieved consistently in recent years. A clear advancement in his racing capabilities could help him make a strong case to team leaders Christian Horner and Helmut Marko for his retention in the lineup.