Former F1 team boss claims 'big chance' Perez leaves Red Bull this season

Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has claimed that there is a 'big chance' Sergio Perez could leave Red Bull during the summer break if his performances do not improve.

After finishing on the podium for four of the first five races this season, Checo has now failed to finish inside the top three since the Chinese Grand Prix back in April.

F1 HEADLINES: Ricciardo fuelled by critics as former principal delivers HARSH verdict

READ MORE: Ferrari suffer Newey 'REJECTION' with British teams poised to swoop

Come lights out in Hungary this weekend, it will be three months exactly since that race and the pressure is mounting on the Mexican to improve, and fast.

Despite putting pen to paper for next year and a possible further 12 months after that with Red Bull, it has not stopped many speculating that Max Verstappen could well have a new team-mate in 2025.

But Steiner has now insisted that Perez could even be out the door this year if the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix do not go well for him.

“I give it a big chance that if he doesn’t improve in the races before the summer break, after the summer break we will maybe see somebody else in the car," Steiner told The Red Flags podcast.

"The obvious candidate is Liam Lawson," he countined when asked who would replace Perez. "He’s there, he’s ready to go. He did a good job last year…

"I just see Liam Lawson getting that seat, if Checo does not do well in the next few races."

“I think the car is pretty good," Steiner continued. "Checo struggles at the moment. He finished second how many times this year? At the beginning of the season quite a few.

“He’s just in a struggle like Danny Ric [Ricciardo] had at McLaren, with Lando [Norris]. He’s just struggling to keep up, it’s a very similar situation. Once you’re down, it’s difficult to get up again.”

Perez is sixth in the drivers' standings on 118 points heading into Hungary, 137 points behind Verstappen.

READ MORE: Verstappen reveals long-term VISION problems from infamous Hamilton crash

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 legend Christian Horner excited by new job as official statement released

• 3 hours ago

Toto Wolff eyes Max Verstappen move as George Russell contract clause could be triggered

• Yesterday 20:14

F1 champion Max Verstappen just doxxed himself at the Monaco Grand Prix

• Yesterday 18:45

Max Verstappen already searching for Red Bull replacement

• Yesterday 11:57

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton denies speeding charge as fans call for Kim Kardashian ban

• Today 07:15

Ferrari throw away Monaco Grand Prix win with botched strategy call

• June 6, 2026 19:57