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These are Red Bull's options to replace Perez for next season should they want to

These are Red Bull's options to replace Perez for next season should they want to

04-08-2021 17:00 Last update: 19:14
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GPblog.com

With Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing has found a second driver who, alongside Max Verstappen, is capable of producing results that will help the team fight for the Constructors' Championship. However, his first half of the season with Red Bull has not been entirely flawless and the Mexican has also had a number of poorer results. Who could replace Perez, should things come to a head at Red Bull?

Alexander Albon

The Red Bull driver for 2020 and the second part of 2019. Two podium finishes but failed to impress during his time with Christian Horner's team. A return to Red Bull, therefore, seems a big step and for Albon's development a move to AlphaTauri would make more sense, should a place become available there.

Pierre Gasly

That place at AlphaTauri could become available if Red Bull promotes Gasly to the big Red Bull again. They previously took that gamble in 2019, when it was the Frenchman's second full season in Formula One. Then it seemed too soon and Gasly was transferred back to then Toro Rosso.

In 2020 and 2021, Gasly proved himself to be a consistent and strong driver, capable of winning and podium finishes. He did so in Baku for the third time in his F1 career. Gasly will therefore certainly have caught the attention of Helmut Marko. If Perez does not extend his contract, Gasly seems to be one of the top candidates.

George Russell

In many interviews, Russell has already indicated that he expects to have a Mercedes engine behind him in 2022. Whether that will be with Mercedes or Williams he left in the middle, but he excludes a switch to Red Bull. Marko in turn revealed that if Mercedes don't opt for the young Brit, Red Bull will be open to the talented F2 champion.

Valtteri Bottas

If Bottas has to leave Mercedes, he could be of high value at Red Bull. After all, the Finn has driven at Mercedes since 2017, so he knows the team very well and also knows the working methods and where they make the difference. Red Bull has already acquired several key team members from Mercedes for their engine project and Bottas is also a person with a lot of knowledge about the Mercedes way of working.

Also, the Finn from Mercedes has experience of winning races and playing second fiddle, something Mercedes and Bottas themselves deny, but makes clear several times on the track. Bottas is at Mercedes to snatch points away from the competition and he can fulfil that role at Red Bull too.

Nico Hulkenberg

A name that was mentioned frequently by Red Bull last year, but never became concrete. Hulkenberg was a reserve driver for Racing Point on several occasions last year but has not driven many races this year. If he has kept up his physical condition Hulkenberg could be an option, but he will not be the top favourite for a seat at Red Bull.

For now, Perez seems to still have the confidence of Red Bull's leadership, but with a current fifth place in the championship, there is work to be done to achieve the objective of becoming constructors' champion. It will help Perez to score podiums, along with Verstappen. As they managed to do at Paul-Ricard.