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marko on perez and norris at red bull alongside verstappen

Marko looks at other options: 'Perez is not always focused'

5 September 2023 at 09:01
Last update 5 September 2023 at 11:10
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  • Toby McLuskie

Red Bull Racing has the dominant car in Formula 1 in 2023. Max Verstappen is making excellent use of it and has already broken a record as a result. Sergio Perez, on the other hand, will have a tougher time in 2023. Red Bull Racing's advisor has once again been critical of the Mexican and is therefore looking at other options for the future, such as Lando Norris.

Will Norris replace Perez at Red Bull?

Perez only won two races this year, while teammate Verstappen came away with 12 wins. "Perez is not consistent, he is not always focused," Marko said in a programme on ServusTV. Verstappen and Norris have already said they are fine with driving for the same team, but the Austrian says it is difficult in the short term because "Perez has a contract until 2024 and Norris has a contract until 2025, unfortunately, it's that long."

Norris has been on the Red Bull adviser's list for some time. "He is definitely a candidate for us. At Toro Rosso, we had already reached an agreement with him at the time, until his manager realised there was an option for a McLaren contract. In terms of youth and speed, he would suit us very well. Sergio, on the other hand, is already over 30 and is expecting his fourth child. So he also has other interests, so you have to see what happens next," Marko continued.

Seat next to Verstappen is tricky

According to Marko, the seat next to Verstappen, who is fixed at Red Bull until 2028, is sought-after, but also not. "On the one hand, the seat in Red Bull is one of the most wanted, but on the other hand, you also have Max Verstappen as an opponent. You then need a very strong personality and also mentality. Perez is the one who has done the best of all drivers in recent years and also won races," the Austrian concluded.