Source – Autosports
Zak Brown, the head of McLaren F1, has identified the Red Bull driver as a vulnerability for the Milton Keynes squad.
As the 2024 F1 season unfolds, Red Bull Racing finds itself in a precarious position despite a commanding start. The team, spearheaded by Max Verstappen, quickly established itself as the force to be reckoned with. The Dutchman’s relentless pace and precision saw him clinch four out of the first five races, propelling Red Bull to a dominant early lead in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
With 408 points after 14 races, Red Bull’s supremacy seems unquestionable on the surface. However, the winds of change are blowing, and they carry the scent of papaya—a nod to the McLaren team, who have been closing the gap with a series of impressive performances. While Red Bull’s early dominance was unquestionable, McLaren’s resurgence has made it clear that no team can afford to become complacent in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.
McLaren, led by their ambitious CEO Zak Brown, has been on a relentless march toward the top. Both of their young and talented drivers have been consistently delivering podium finishes and even securing wins, allowing the team to chip away at Red Bull’s lead. What seemed like an insurmountable gap just a few races ago has now become a serious challenge. The papaya-liveried cars have emerged as genuine contenders, and their momentum is growing with each passing race.
But as McLaren continues to mount pressure, Red Bull’s Achilles’ heel has been exposed: the lackluster performance of Sergio Perez. While Verstappen has been a one-man army, fighting tooth and nail to maintain Red Bull’s advantage, Perez has struggled to contribute meaningfully. Over the last eight races, Perez has managed to score a meager 28 points—a paltry sum compared to his teammate’s haul. His minimal contributions have placed an undue burden on Verstappen, raising concerns that Red Bull’s grip on the constructors’ title is slipping away.
The situation has become so dire that rumors of Perez being sacked began swirling within weeks of him signing a new two-year contract in June. The whispers have only grown louder as McLaren’s threat looms larger.
Zak Brown, never one to mince words, recently weighed in on the situation. Speaking to the BBC, the McLaren chief made it clear that he believes the title fight with Red Bull will ultimately hinge on Perez’s performance. In Brown’s view, Perez holds the key to whether Red Bull can fend off McLaren’s challenge or whether they will succumb to the pressure.
“It’s going to be tough,” Brown admitted. “I think it’s going to come down to the last race. There’s not much between the cars. It’s gonna come down to how Sergio Perez performs.”
Brown’s assessment is brutally honest: if Perez steps up and delivers the performances he’s capable of, Red Bull will have a strong chance of retaining their title. However, if his current form continues, McLaren’s consistent double-pronged attack could tip the scales in their favor.
“If he can perform as he’s capable of performing, it’s going to be a hard fight,” Brown continued. “If he continues to perform as he has this year, we have a pretty good chance because we have two drivers constantly performing at the front.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher as the season hurtles toward its climax. Red Bull, once seemingly untouchable, now faces the very real prospect of losing their lead in the constructors’ championship. McLaren, on the other hand, is smelling blood and is ready to capitalize on any further missteps from their rivals.
In the high-octane world of Formula 1, where every second counts, the difference between victory and defeat can come down to a single driver’s performance. For Red Bull, that driver is Sergio Perez. His ability—or inability—to rise to the occasion could determine the fate of the 2024 constructors’ championship. And as McLaren continues to snap at their heels, Red Bull knows they can no longer afford to rest on their laurels. The battle for supremacy is far from over, and the final chapters of this thrilling season are yet to be written.
