Former F1 world champion slams Sergio Perez: 'He has had his worst season'

F1 News

Former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve slams Sergio Perez at Red Bull
5 June at 11:30
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  • Toby Nixon

Sergio Perez's contract renewal with Red Bull has caused quite a stir online after it was announced that the Mexican will stay with Red Bull. The six-time Grand Prix winner's new contract will keep him at the reining world champions until the end of 2026. Former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has slammed Sergio Perez's recent performances at Red Bull, stating that 'Checo' is having his 'worst season ever' in 2024. 

Speaking to Best Online Poker Sites, the 11-time Grand Prix winner slammed Sergio Perez for his poor performance alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull. "He has had his worst season ever at Red Bull. Normally he would have an amazing first few races. But he hasn’t even had that this year. So, he’s collapsed on top of that! He was already behind Max at the start of the season and now he’s dropped another half a second. That is ten cars on the grid. I don’t know what is going on," said the Canadian. 

Does Perez deserve to stay at Red Bull?

The decision comes after a dip in form for Sergio Perez. In the last three races in Miami, Imola and Monaco, he finished fourth, eighth and then crashed out on the first lap after qualifying 16th, costing Red Bull millions of pounds.

After the announcement, team boss Christian Horner said: "The past few races have been tough, there is convergence on the grid, but we are confident in Checo and look forward to his return to proven form and performance, that we so often see."

Sergio Perez has not won a race since April 2023, when he triumphed in Baku at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite finishing second to Verstappen in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Japan early on in the season, Perez finished just fifth in Australia when Verstappen retired, and behind Lando Norris' McLaren in China. The contract signing means another top seat is now officially unavailable to Carlos Sainz. The most likely destinations for the Spaniard are Williams or Sauber, which will become the Audi works team in 2026.