Something the current Clone team ownership will never admit. The contrast between Vettel and Checo is apparent. One being released brings results, one brought excuses and a consistent lack of form and shows how not to leave a team.
The second team was there to give Honda more chassis to perform engine performance and lifetime analysis upon.
Sources: Sergio Perez and Red Bull Agree On A 1 Year Deal, Albon To Stay As Third Wheel Image Unavailable, Please Login Red Bull F1 Team, Sergio Perez and his sponsor Telcel have agreed on a one year deal, for the 2021 season, with options of a stronger cooperation starting in 2022. I have independently confirmed with multiple sources working in the paddock, that Sergio Perez, Telcel and Red Bull Formula One Team have agreed to give the second drive of their top team to Sergio Perez, the most sought after free agent driver available for 2021. So it does mean that even after a resurgence of positive results towards the back end of the season for Alex Albon, he loses his spot on the grid for the 2021 Formula 1 season. He finished just off the podium in Abu Dhabi with a solid fourth place, preceded by a sixth place at the Sakhir Grand Prix. It is expected that Albon will stay as Red Bull’s test, simulator and reserve driver. A role that could even see Albon have a few starts in a shared drive with Perez, if results are not meeting expectations. Back to Sergio Perez, it is a one year agreement, with options on Red Bulls’ side for the 2022 season. Financial terms have not been disclosed, but it is expected that Telcel, Sergio Perez’s long time sponsor and Mexico’s third biggest communications conglomerate, will sponsor the Red Bull team starting in 2021. Sergio Perez will become Max Verstappen’s fourth teammate at Red Bull Racing team, after Daniel Riccardo, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon. An option is also envisioned for a deeper cooperation between the parties starting in 2022, an option that would resolve Red Bull’s biggest problem going forward. As it was announced earlier this year, Honda will be leaving Formula 1 after the 2022 season, and will not supply engines and power units to Red Bull F1 and Alpha Tauri. Red Bull have been exploring over the last few months the option to taking over the Honda Formula 1 engine factory in Milton Keynes, after Honda vacates the facility at the end of the 2021 season. The financial burden of such a venture, building their own Formula 1 engines for two teams, would be greatly reduced by a substantial sponsorship of the Mexican telecom giant in what could be a sponsored engine name, like Tag Heuer did to the Renault engine during a few seasons. Sergio Perez will bring experience, consistency, and added resources to the Red Bull Formula 1 Team in their quest to beat Mercedes in the Constructor’s Championship in 2021. https://sportspodcastingnetwork.com/2020/12/14/sources-sergio-perez-and-red-bull-agree-on-a-1-year-deal-albon-to-stay-as-third-wheel/
No way, Pierre is 1000/00 secure he has earned the seat ten times over. Tsunoda will be his teammate as announced today.
Nice compliment to the Cans. Albonet0 seemed ill-equipped to handle Max’ pace and the never ending grind of comparisons made between age equivalent drivers. He was probably so stressed, he likely hoped his car would pop after watching Max build a huge difference 15 laps in rather than finish and be subjected to another round of “what was wrong out there” from all fronts. None of this will affect Checo. Being a veteran, it’s already a given he’ll eat Max’ dust all year long and it won’t bother him or the team.. As we’ve seen for countless years, he’s deft on the car, almost invisible while scything through the field then notably capitalizing on his uncanny strength, the long game. He won’t get in Max’ way, won’t crash cars in qualifying and probably be on a different strategy than Max more often than not, allowing Red Bull a palette of options during a race. In short, he’s the ideal template for Max’ Number 2. No worries he’ll be trying to show he’s WDC material or that he’s as quick as the Dutchman. He’ll run his race, make cagey calls and score far more points next year than anyone else in the seat.
I think Albon needs some mentoring - he clearly has the skill, and ability but needs to be in a more supportive environment. I think Putting Perez in is going to be a mistake. but time will tell.
I think RedBull is very uber cut throat. you are either in or out and they don't give young guys enough time to grow. Albon had a good car last year and this year the car was not to his liking... more for Verstappen..... who has been there a while, so he's been able to mold the team more. I think in then end this hurts the teams ability to have one good current driver and one that is developing....
If it turns out to be true that Perez goes to Red Bull, his driving this year has earned it, plain and simple. And RB needs two strong, crafty, and mature drivers because they cannot count on Honda's engines to give them any competitive advantage next year...more likely a bigger disadvantage compared to Renault, Ferrari and Mercedes. With hard work (and luck) Red Bull will make it even closer to Mercedes. But unless they get an engine that is capable of winning constantly, it will still be second place for them. I think 2021 will be Hamilton's last year...an 8th WDC or not. And I think Mercedes will bow out as well as a team, maybe only supplying engines for a couple years after that, while turning their attention on F-E.
Red Bull is a top team. Red Bull didn't ask Albon to beat Max. They asked for a not-unreasonable target of roughly 3 tenths to Max. If you look at Albon's performance all year in percentage terms, he hasn't improved at all. That's the reason he's got the boot.
In the Red Bull stable, several home-grown drivers have already failed to match expectations, and have been ditched or relegated. This time, they went to an experienced driver, contrary to their philosophy, but what will happen if Perez doesn't meet their target?
Perez has a 1 year contract. If he can't hack it, Gasly will probably get the nod again. Who knows what Tsunoda can do (ok haven't got my hopes high on him so far...decent in F2 but didn't set the world alight either). Red Bull remain a top team so it's not like they can't get a driver. Some chap called Russell if he doesn't get the nod from Mercedes still...they can steal him.
