'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There are constant talks and discussions about whether Red Bull will replace Sergio Perez if he is unable to perform well, even though he is having a brilliant season in 2023.
Several F1 fans and pundits speculated on how Daniel Ricciardo could replace Checo, especially since the Australian joined the team as a third driver. However, there is another driver the Mexican needs to be wary of: Yuki Tsunoda.
According to Formu1a.uno, AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost praised the Japanese driver and said he could be promoted to Red Bull if he keeps improving day by day. Since Max Verstappen has already cemented himself in the team for several years, this could mean that Sergio Perez can be replaced by Tsunoda.
Tost said:
“Yuki doesn’t need good words. He is fast, and he has done a fantastic job over the last two years. And if he continues like this, meaning that he improves race by race, that he shows the performance, then Red Bull will discuss it. And I think that he is [driving] in a good way, but the rest we will see. He, for sure, needs another year [before Red Bull consideration].”
Of course, Yuki Tsunoda has been in the Red Bull junior program since the very beginning. He has proven himself in the F1 feeder series and has been quite decent in F1. Though he did make a few silly blunders, according to Tost, he has shown tremendous improvement in the 2023 F1 season.
Sergio Perez is quite safe at Red Bull since he is performing extremely well and is a title contender. However, he is well aware that the moment his performance drops, there are several candidates ready to pounce and take his seat.
Philip Eng on Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez's title battle so far
Austrian racing driver Phillip Eng recently explained how Max Verstappen wanted to dominate Sergio Perez and win the Miami GP and show his strength, especially after Baku, where Checo dominated the entire race.
Eng feels that the championship battle will start getting intense if Checo keeps pushing and challenges Verstappen.
He said:
“I think Max drives flawlessly. What he delivers is very difficult to top. It can break a teammate. I think the thing with Baku had Max very foxed that Perez drove the whole race in front of him. He didn’t have a chance to get past or get close. That’s why he showed in Miami who’s the master of the house.”
Currently, Max Verstappen is leading the drivers' championship with 119 points. But Sergio Perez is right behind the Dutchman in second place with 105 points. The next race will take place in Monaco, where the Mexican won back in 2022.
