Sergio Perez’s performance with Red Bull has been a mixed bag this season in 2023. While he has had some impressive showings, taking the podium in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Monaco, he has also experienced some setbacks, such as retiring from the lead in Australia and finishing outside the points in Azerbaijan. In comparison, his teammate Max Verstappen has been in outstanding form, winning 8 races in a row and currently leading the Drivers’ Championship by a significant margin. Perez currently sits in second place, but he still has a considerable gap to close behind Verstappen.
Recently some reports suggest that Sergio Perez has a clause in his contract at Red Bull that could cost him a lot of money. The stipulation states that, if Perez falls 125 points or more behind his teammate Max Verstappen in the F1 standings, his salary and bonuses can be reduced.
Max Verstappen’s dominance could reduce Sergio Perez’s paycheck
Max Verstappen’s dominance could reduce Sergio Perez’s paycheck. Perez is currently paid a base salary of $8 million per year, but he also receives performance-related bonuses. If Verstappen continues to dominate and Perez is unable to challenge him for the Drivers’ Championship, then Perez’s performance-related bonuses could be reduced.
According to De Telegraaf, there is a stipulation that Perez’s salary and bonuses may be reduced if he falls 125 points or more behind his teammate Max Verstappen in the F1 standings. This means that Perez will be financially affected if the gap between him and Verstappen increases. This adds more stress and pressure to Perez’s already difficult situation as a teammate to F1’s top driver.
Despite Red Bull almost winning every grand prix in 2023, with two of them won by Perez, his overall performance has been questioned due to the power of the RB19 at his disposal. Although he managed to secure second place in the most recent grand prix in Belgium, finishing behind Verstappen.
Is Red Bull planning to replace Sergio Perez?
There have been rumours circulating that Red Bull may replace Sergio Perez in the future, however, the team has yet to make any official announcements. Perez’s performance in the 2023 season has been mixed, with some impressive races, but also some disappointing ones. In comparison, his teammate Max Verstappen has been in outstanding form this year.
Despite this, Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner has confirmed that Perez is still their second driver and they are content with his performance. It remains uncertain whether Perez can improve his performance and compete with Verstappen for the Drivers’ Championship. Nevertheless, if he wants to continue as a Red Bull driver beyond 2023, he will need to start performing more consistently.
What do you think about Sergio exiting Red Bull? Do let us know your views on the salary clause in the comments section down below.
