F1 News
Marko on possible successor Perez: 'Rather Norris than Hamilton'
- Toby McLuskie
After 2024, Sergio Perez's contract expires and a decision has to be made whether the Mexican will stay on alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing or whether there will be a new teammate. While the F1 world is fixated on Perez's possible (early) replacement, Dr Helmut Marko insinuates that he prefers to keep Perez.
Red Bull has choice of top drivers
Indeed, speaking to Motorsport-magazin.com, the Red Bull team advisor discusses who could be Perez's possible replacement. Red Bull is the top team in recent years and thus has a choice of the best drivers. For instance, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton would be fast teammates of Verstappen.
Marko: "With Norris I can quite imagine it, but with Hamilton it seems more difficult." These two drivers' relationships with Verstappen are very different. Norris, on the contrary, is good friends with the two-time world champion. Between Verstappen and Hamilton, there is an old feud dating back to 2021 that could potentially be quickly revived if the two are to compete again.
But Marko prefers little risk
Yet in the end, Marko is also not a fan of another fast driver like Norris alongside Verstappen. The Austrian explains: "That [Verstappen and Norris in one team] would be ideal for the public, for the television and for the journalists, but for the success of the team; we want to win the championship. It is better if you have a clear hierarchy, where it is clear who - I don't want to call it the first driver - is clearly the fastest driver."
This is good news for Perez, as 2023 will again show that Verstappen is the faster of the two Red Bull drivers. The internal struggle and associated risks are minimized, and Perez seems to have it in him to consolidate P2 in the championship for himself.