Shock and confusion over decision about Perez: 'Not Red-Bull like'

F1 News

Van der Garde finds Perez staying at Red Bull 'unbelievable'
31 July at 14:00
  • Jeroen Immink

Sergio Perez may stay at Red Bull Racing for now. This week, the Austrian racing stable decided to give the Mexican another chance alongside Max Verstappen. Former Dutch racing driver, Giedo van der Garde understands very little about this and calls the decision "unbelievable".

Van der Garde had Perez thrown out at Red Bull

In the podcast DRS The Race Show, Van der Garde comments on Red Bull's decision to leave Perez still in the RB20. The Dutchman does not have a good word to say about the Mexican's current form. "I find it unbelievable. A choice that is not Red Bull-like. Normally they never give someone a chance for so long if someone is not performing. And after the first four races, he is performing dramatically," Van der Garde revealed.

In this regard, Van der Garde does not understand why Dr Helmut Marko, who has been bitterly hard on Red Bull drivers in the past, did not intervene. "You choose that collectively. Marko has something to contribute, Horner has something to contribute and the team has something to contribute. I still don't understand why Horner is holding out his hand for so long. Apparently Horner has more say than Marko," Van der Garde added.

Van der Garde added that Red Bull should always have chosen someone else. "Of course you have a young driver like Liam Lawson, who wants to prove himself enormously alongside Max Verstappen. But on the other hand, if he doesn't perform then it's the end of his career. Or you put someone next to him who knows the team well, is a good second driver, doesn't make too many mistakes and doesn't crash too much. Then you automatically end up with Ricciardo."

This article was written in collaboration with Sophia Crothall.