F1 Today | Exclusive Perez news, plus cost cap issues for Honda and Alpine
F1 News
The world of Formula 1 never slows down, even if there is action away from the track, and that has been the case today. News broke surrounding Sergio Perez and his future at Red Bull Racing, and GPblog has exclusive news on the developing situation. Along with that, breaking news also came out today surrounding Honda and Alpine violating the cost gap regulations, and there may be another penalty heading Max Verstappen's way again, this time for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Exclusive: Brazil GP may be Perez's last
Today, GPblog has learned that the Brazilian Grand Prix may be the last for Sergio Perez at Red Bull. The Austrian team are emphatically considering this huge change after Perez's poor performances throughout the season.
After starting the season well and then signing a two-year extension deal with Red Bull, Perez has had five Q1 eliminations, a string of poor results, and last week at the Mexican Grand Prix, he finished last out of all the classified cars in front of his home fans.
Through a spokesperson, Red Bull says that nothing has changed regarding this situation, but on Instagram, a mysterious and emotional post by Antonio Perez Garibay, Perez's father, highlighted that it might be the end for the Mexican. In the post, Perez's father elaborates on his son's career, talking about Sergio's first Grand Prix in 2011 in Australia and 'his last race at the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix'. According to Red Bull, the post does not have anything to do with Perez's future with the team.
Honda and Red Bull violate cost cap regulations
Hefty fines have been sent the way of both Honda and Alpine after procedural violations of the budget cap. HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) will have to pay $600,000, while Alpine have a $400,000 fine sent their way.
Earlier, it was announced by the FIA that all teams on the grid had complied with the budget cap regulations for the 2023 season. However, two power unit manufacturers did not, and they were Honda and Alpine. The FIA stressed that neither had exceeded the cost cap itself, but that the fines that were given to them were purely for procedural violations of the regulations.
Both manufacturers only received fines because the FIA believes that both "acted in good faith at all times", and that they also cooperated fully with the investigation.
"Consideration" for a Verstappen engine change
The Mexican Grand Prix was a pretty tough race for Max Verstappen. It did not fall into the disaster category after his P6 finish, but after two 10-second time penalties came his way for forcing a driver off the track, both while battling Lando Norris, he could only finish in P6 while Norris closed the gap in the drivers' championship with a P2 finish.
Now, heading to Sao Paulo, Verstappen could start on the back foot before the Grand Prix even gets underway. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko spoke to Sky Sports DE after the Grand Prix in Mexico City, saying that the Dutchman's engine had some issues, meaning an engine change and a five-place grid penalty could be coming Verstappen's way.
"That is the consideration... but that is not as bad as the engine becoming even slower. That will probably be the case in the next five races," said Marko, admitting that an engine decreasing in performance may force their hand and change it.