Red Bull Formula 1 advisor Helmut Marko has handed Sergio Perez a boost over his chances of remaining with the team amid rumours Carlos Sainz could take his seat.
Providing reports that Verstappen could make a sensational switch to Mercedes don’t materialise, Red Bull is considering who should partner the Dutchman next season.
Perez has been the incumbent of the second Red Bull seat since 2021 but is out of contract and under pressure to retain his place following a torrid season last term.
Lewis Hamilton’s bombshell choice to switch to Ferrari in 2025 has made Carlos Sainz available and the Spaniard delivered a sublime victory in Australia last weekend.
Speaking post-race, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner failed to rule out a move for Sainz, who had been associated with the Red Bull stable until October 2017.
While Marko admits Red Bull is keeping tabs on the Spaniard’s situation, he has outlined that the reigning champions have been impressed with Perez’s first three races.
“Of course his [Sainz] form is fascinating. But you have to It should be noted that Checo delivered three good races this year,” Marko told Laola1.
“The reason why he fell behind in Melbourne [to fifth place] was due to the damaged underbody [from a visor tear-off getting lodged under his floor] and tyre degradation.
“His only weakness is in qualifying, if he can improve there, there is no need to think. The atmosphere in the team is very good, also as far as he is concerned.”
Sainz capitalised on a stuck right rear brake putting Verstappen out of the race in the nascent stages, while Perez was hampered through a grid drop and car damage.
However, Marko is not concerned about the problem that curtailed Verstappen’s chances of matching his record of 10 consecutive victories occurring in future rounds.
“Max’s brake broke, the exact cause is still being investigated. But it’s not the brake caliper. It’s more of an assembly issue, but that will be checked.
“I have no worries for Japan, that’s not a problem.”
Red Bull saw its advantage in the Constructors’ Championship slashed to four points in Melbourne, but Marko believes normal service will resume at the Japanese GP.
Verstappen proceeded to dominate at Suzuka upon having his last defeat inflicted on him in Singapore last September, taking the chequered flag with a 19-second gap.
“Suzuka is a power track that suits us, Max is always great there. I’m very optimistic,” Marko added.
Marko has also been vocal about Daniel Ricciardo’s with Red Bull’s sister squad, RB, with Yuki Tsunoda having outqualified the Australian at all three rounds thus far.
Asked whether the Japanese driver was a candidate for a promotion, Marko replied: “You would have to have another driver as a comparison.
“The question is: Has Yuki become a high-flyer or is Daniel so weak? There are still no objective answer after three races on three completely different courses.”
Meanwhile, the Austrian, 80, noted that the leadership structure involving Laurent Mekies as Team Principal and Peter Bayer as CEO at RB is working “very well”.
