Red Bull Should Find 'Cojones' To Replace Perez With Tsunoda Says Herbert

Wednesday, 23 October 2024 at 22:00

Former F1 driver Johny Hebert suggested Red Bull needs to replace Sergio Perez as soon as possible and Yuki Tsunoda is the right replacement.

Although Red Bull claims to have now identified and fixed the big issues that slowed down their cars since around the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, Sergio Perez hasn't yet been able to show that through his results.

The 2024 United States Grand Prix was the 13th race in a row where the Mexican driver hasn't finished better than P6. In comparison, Max Verstappen scored four podiums and hasn't finished worse than P6 in that same period.

Although Sergio Perez recently stated that he will 100% be driving for the team from Milton Keynes in 2025 as well, many F1 experts can't see that happening.

In a recent interview with Genting Casinos, former F1 driver Johny Herbert suggested that he expects the Austrian team to replace the 34-year-old F1 driver either before or right after the Mexico City Grand Prix.

"Red Bull are potentially going to lose second place in the Constructors' because they've only got one man doing the job again."

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"Sergio Perez got points this weekend, but he's only getting little bits, nothing compared to what is happening with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who are neck and neck as far as pace goes and got a massive haul of points when one-two."

"Sergio is delivering but not quite delivering enough, so do they replace him now? I think yes, if they’re trying to keep that second place in the constructors."

Scuderia Ferrari, which was more than 30 points behind Red Bull Racing in the Constructors' Championship, is now only eight points behind the team from Milton Keynes after scoring a one-two in Austin. Herbert continued:

"Whether they have the cojones to do it before Sergio Perez's home race in Mexico is the question - I'd say yes, because of the way the Constructors is playing out at the moment."

"Maybe they will keep Perez in Mexico and then make the call for Brazil. They need to do it sooner rather than later if they are going to do it. For me, it should have happened earlier."

As to who should be the driver that replaces Sergio Perez, the three-time Grand Prix winner suggested that Yuki Tsunoda from VCARB seems to be the right option.

"For me, it's Yuki Tsunoda who should come in. I think Yuki has done a brilliant job this year. He's very consistent as well. His qualifying has been very, very strong. Always been very good at qualifying."