Sergio Perez‘s future as Max Verstappen‘s teammate in 2025 is uncertain. Despite a contract until 2026, his performances have lagged behind Verstappen’s, with mistakes and crashes adding to the challenges. Jeroen Bleekemolen believes Perez’s struggles come from trying too hard to match Verstappen.
The debate about replacing Perez has been ongoing since last season. Even though Verstappen leads the drivers’ championship, Red Bull sits third in constructors’ rankings. Meanwhile, drivers like Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz are closer to their teammates than Perez is.
Bleekemolen on Red Bull’s Dilemma with Perez
In an interview, Bleekemolen mentioned that Perez seems to have endless chances: “Somehow it seems like a cat with, I would say, nine lives, but it seems like he has 25 lives. He keeps coming back.” He recalled how Perez drove from last to first at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix without any safety car intervention, proving his skill. So if anyone thinks he can’t drive, that’s just silly.
Driving alongside Verstappen is tough. Bleekemolen noted that it pushes drivers to try things they normally wouldn’t attempt. This pressure might be affecting Perez mentally. Yet, it’s not easy for anyone who might replace him either.
Who Could Replace Perez?
If Bleekemolen had a say, he’d choose Liam Lawson as the best candidate for Red Bull: “What he has shown so far in Formula 1 is fantastic.” Lawson’s performance across different racing series shows he’s adaptable and skilled.
Yuki Tsunoda has more experience in F1 but Bleekemolen prefers Lawson: “Because Lawson is better.” While Tsunoda is good, he’s not exceptional. Fans might think it’s time for a fresh face next to Verstappen.
The future will reveal if Lawson or someone else will step up beside Verstappen. What do you think?
