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Priestly No-brainer decision to replace Perez Ricciardo Belgian GP

'No-brainer decision' to replace Perez: 'Threat for the championship'

29 July at 15:00
Last update 29 July at 15:00
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  • Kada Sarkozi
  • Editor

Former McLaren engineer Marc Priestly has made his mind up following the Belgian Grand Prix: Sergio Perez has to leave Red Bull Racing. Another driver that missed out on an important results at Spa was Lando Norris, who finished behind Max Verstappen, and as a result, saw the gap extended to the Dutchman further.

Priestly calls for change at Red Bull

The former engineer was clear about Sergio Perez's result at the Belgian Grand Prix. The Mexican finished in P8, but eventually got to promoted to P7. Perez also remains the only driver currently competing for a top team that is yet to win a Grand Prix in 2024. "This was his shot, and yet he fumbled it," Priestly declared.

Perez currently is in P7 of the Drivers' Standings, trailing Max Verstappen by 146 points. According to the Briton, Perez is now a threat to Red Bull winning in both drivers' and constructors' championships, and he should be replaced by Daniel Ricciardo. "For me now, it's a no-brainer if you're Red Bull."

Norris' 'small mistake' costs him huge

Lando Norris had the chance to earn some valuable points at the Belgian Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen had to deal with a ten-place grid penalty. That, however, ended up in a result where the Dutchman finished ahead of the one-time Grand Prix winner, and extended his lead ahead of the summer break. "He does need to learn to just iron out the small mistakes, and they are small ones today. That little mistake at the beginning of the race cost him heavily because it put him back into traffic. And in today's race, running in the dirty air of cars around was just so compromising, he had no way of getting out of that. That small mistake, really did cost him large. He's got to find a way to stop making those."