Helmut Marko has insisted Sergio Perez remains to be the most suitable choice to complete the Formulation 1 season alongside Purple Bull team-mate Max Verstappen.
Perez’s droop in efficiency within the second quarter of the marketing campaign has allowed McLaren to slender the hole to Purple Bull within the constructors’ standings to 42 factors by the summer time break.
That made Purple Bull rethink whether or not it ought to change the Mexican with considered one of its different drivers – Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson – regardless of Perez having just lately signed a two-year contract extension.
However after contemplating their choices, Purple Bull workforce boss Christian Horner and workforce advisor Marko determined to maintain backing Perez, with RB’s line-up of Ricciardo and Tsunoda additionally remaining unchanged.
In his column on Purple Bull-owned publication Speedweek, Marko defined that Perez was “nonetheless our greatest resolution” given the alternate options that have been obtainable, saying the 34-year-old simply has to search out extra consistency after displaying flashes of his outdated self in Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.
“Sergio Perez can even be within the Purple Bull Racing automobile after the summer time break as a result of we now have races on the tracks the place he was good final yr and we’re banking on stability,” Marko wrote.
“He has repeatedly proven good performances in between, and he was additionally very quick in third place on Saturday on the final race weekend in Spa.
Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
“Perez would not should turn into quicker, however extra constant and, given the alternate options, he’s nonetheless our greatest resolution.”
Marko refuted hypothesis that F1 proprietor Liberty Media had a hand in its driver selection.
“Stories that his continued involvement is because of Liberty Media’s want for him to drive in Mexico aren’t true,” he mentioned. “They definitely need him to contest his house race, however our selection of driver isn’t based mostly on Liberty’s intentions.”
Purple Bull can even should determine on what to do with reserve driver Liam Lawson, who’s free to discover a seat elsewhere if Purple Bull cannot give him an F1 drive in 2025. However Marko dominated out Lawson being loaned out to rival groups to maintain him inside the ranks.
“We are going to announce what is going to occur with Liam Lawson in September,” the Austrian defined. “The truth that he was allowed to realize additional Formulation 1 kilometres of expertise in Imola had been deliberate for a while. Even when the competitors want to use him on mortgage, he isn’t obtainable for that.
“Our Formulation 2 driver Isack Hadjar took his fourth victory within the high method racing class at Spa. He clearly has the potential for Formulation 1.
“We’ll see how every little thing develops, however he will definitely tackle a task of some variety. It may very well be that, like Lawson, he’ll spend a yr as a check and simulator driver.”
