'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Sergio Perez's underwhelming performances in 2024 might see him face the Red Bull axe. Despite starting the season formidably, Perez could not get out of the downward trajectory of late, and if reports from RacingNews365 are true, he has two more races to save his Red Bull career.
Perez signed a two-year contract extension recently, which will see him at Milton-Keynes till the end of 2026. However, the clauses in the contract could see him out of the Austrian team mid-season, despite the recent renewal.
On that note, below are some of the drivers who could replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull:
#1 Yuki Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda is arguably the best candidate to replace Perez at Red Bull. The Japanese driver has been driving for Bull's sister team VCARB (formerly Alpha Tauri) since 2021, and his recent performances have impressed the top brass of the Red Bull fraternity.
Besides this, Tsunoda has been the lead driver of his team since 2023 and is an abled candidate for Perez's seat. Experts often praise Tsunoda for his speed even in the RB challenger, and one can expect him to deliver results in the mighty RB20.
Yuki Tsunoda signed a contract extension with VCARB recently, which will see him stay with the team for one more year. However, a change of fortune could see him drive alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
#2 Carlos Sainz
Ferrari decided they would replace Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton in the 2025 season. While the Italian team retained Charles Leclerc, they cleared the air on Sainz. The Spanish driver has been in talks with several teams for a switch ever since, but none has worked out.
Amid all the rumors with Williams, and Alpine, Sainz is also a strong candidate to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull. The Spaniard is a former Toro Rosso driver (currently VCARB) and was a teammate to the Dutchman in 2015 and 2016.
Sainz, known for his speed and agility, can be the right candidate to help Red Bull secure valuable points. Besides this, he can push Verstappen to his absolute limit and thrust Red Bull into the Constructors' Championship.
#3 Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas is racing in his last year with Kick Sauber. They signed Nico Hulkenberg for 2025, and that leaves him and his current teammate Guanyu Zhou with one seat to fill. Interestingly, the Chinese driver is backed by massive Chinese sponsorships, which isn't the case with Bottas.
If Bottas misses out on the Sauber seat, he can jump to Red Bull and drive alongside Max Verstappen. The Finnish comes with massive experience from his Mercedes days (2017-2021), where he raced alongside Lewis Hamilton and helped the Silver Arrows claim multiple Constructors' Championships.
He won 10 Grand Prix with Mercedes. Red Bull could use his expertise to help themselves in the Constructors' Championship, something they are currently lacking under Sergio Perez's tenure.
