Red Bull Racing F1 advisor Helmut Marko defended the team's driver, Sergio Perez, after failing the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Every weekend, we hear more and more speculations and rumors in relation to the second seat in the Red Bull Racing team alongside three-time World Champion Max Verstappen for the season 2024.
The current holder of the seat is Sergio Perez. His contract is valid until the end of season 2024. However, his disappointing performances in the dominant car prompt people to speculate whether he deserves the seat.
One of the suggested replacements for the Mexican driver is Daniel Ricciardo, who put his supposedly slower AlphaTauri in front of Perez on Red Bull in the qualification on Saturday.
The rumors about the change of drivers for the next season have been recently denied by the team principal, Christian Horner as well as Perez's father Antonio.
After the retirement of Sergio Perez from the most recent Grand Prix in Mexico City, Helmut Marko joined the club of the above-mentioned and also said Perez will drive for Red Bull next year. Marko told Sky Italia.
"How many times do I have to repeat this? Checo has a contract for 2024, and that will happen."
Marko's word has great value and influence when it comes to deciding who will drive for the Red Bull team. He is also the one who criticized Perez not too long ago.
It was a few races ago that Marko told OE24 Perez "needs change in climate and team." The performances of the Mexican driver have not improved since the statement, so it is interesting to see Marko say Perez will drive for Red Bull in 2024.
"He had a super weekend until the first lap of the race and I am convinced that he would have been on the podium [without the collision]."
Marko said he is convinced Perez would have been on the podium had it not been for his contact with Charles Leclerc in the first corner. Perez has a chance for redemption this sprint race week at Sau Paulo.