Max Verstappen wins third consecutive Formula One world championship
Red Bull have been linked with signing Fernando Alonso as part of their 2024 reshuffle, with Sergio Perez’s future with the team still uncertain. Christian Horner jumped to the defence of the 33-year-old after he retired from the Mexico Grand Prix over the weekend.
Perez has struggled this season, with the impressive success of Max Verstappen highlighting the gulf in quality between the two drivers. However, although Red Bull are thriving at present, concerns have been raised about the contrasting stars.
Questions have been raised about whether Verstappen could improve further if he was to be pushed by a stronger teammate who was capable of pouncing on his mistakes further down the line. Numerous drivers have been linked with the position previously, including Daniel Ricciardo.
Reports have since emerged linking Perez with a move away from Red Bull, swapping places with Alonso at Aston Martin. The rumours have been played down since, though tongues have been set wagging at the prospect of a blockbuster double switch.
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Red Bull chief Helmut Marko has never shied away from singing the praises of Alonso and it would be no surprise if the Austrian did green-light a move for the two-time champion further down the line. Speaking earlier this season, Marko named Alonso as one of only two drivers that could push Verstappen for the title.
He said: “Being second behind Max is like a win. There won’t be any other driver who could stay with him on one level. Maybe [Fernando] Alonso and [Lewis] Hamilton would be nearer, but nobody could beat him at the moment.”
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Perez’s collision, caused by his audacious overtake attempt on the first corner, means that Red Bull are now at risk of not securing a historic one-two at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. The team are desperate to secure the achievement, though several drivers also have their heart set on securing P2.
Asked whether a failure to finish second behind Verstappen would result in Red Bull parting ways with Perez, Horner explained: “It’s not as binary as that. You’ve got to look at the circumstances, and so on. Checo [Perez] has an agreement with us for next year and that’s our intention for him to be in the car in 2024. But we’ll give him all the support that we can, to ensure that he finishes second but there’s no prerequisite that, if he doesn’t finish second, he’s out.”
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