Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko states that Sergio Perez is not in danger of being ousted from the team.
Perez has endured a difficult handful of races, failing to score points in Monaco after he was stuck in the pack following a crash during qualifying.
Last time out in Spain, Perez dropped out in Q2 and progressed to fourth place in the grand prix, while team-mate Max Verstappen took the win.
Perez has taken two race wins so far this year, while Verstappen has prevailed at five.
But amid a challenging run of form, Marko denies that Perez is edging towards losing his seat at Red Bull.
“It’s all nonsense,” Marko told F1-Insider. “Sergio’s place has never been in jeopardy and will never be in jeopardy!
“He is an important element in achieving the goals we have set for this year. We want to finish first and second in the Drivers’ Championship and become Constructors’ World Champion as quickly as possible.”
Following the Spanish Grand Prix, Perez fell 53 points behind Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship.
Team boss Christian Horner suggested that the deficit could play into the Mexican’s hands as it eases the pressure on his shoulders.
Marko mirrored his colleague’s comment: ”After his rather weak performances in Miami and Monaco, I just reminded Sergio that he should concentrate on his job,” he said.
“There, he didn’t take advantage of the possibilities that were in him. In the team with Max, he has an opponent who is very difficult to beat. And not just from him, but from all the drivers on the grid at the moment.
“He should therefore concentrate on himself and not try desperately to beat Max. He should be there when things aren’t going optimally for Max.
“Sergio’s good race after the failed qualifying session in Barcelona was again the first step in the right direction.”
