Driver question for Bullen

Helmut Marko: “Almost everything speaks for him at the moment”

Dr. Helmut Marko

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

While Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen also cruised to victory in Shanghai, his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez gathered further arguments for staying with the Austrian-British racing team for longer. The Mexican drove to third place in the sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, as he had done the day before, and received praise from RB motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. "At the moment, a lot or almost everything speaks for Checo," said the Styrian on ServusTV.

Perez is having his strongest season to date this year, as Marko emphasized after the sprint race on Saturday, and the harmony with Verstappen is also good. "That is a very important factor. The two get on well and are relatively similar in terms of set-up. Of course, that makes all the technical work easier because the data is more comparable," added the 80-year-old. Perez has also overcome his qualifying weakness from last year this year.

Good atmosphere between Sergio Perez (l.) and Max Verstappen (r.)

(Bild: APA/AFP/Philip FONG)

Long-term plans for the future
The Mexican's contract expires at the end of the season and a decision on the 34-year-old's future is expected to be made in the summer. Perez recently emphasized to ESPN Mexico that he does not want to sign for just one year. "It makes a lot more sense for my next contract to be for at least two years," said the runner-up with a view to the rule changes in 2026, which could turn the balance of power upside down again. "There will be a lot of developments in the middle of next year, so it's important to be part of a long-term project."

"Norris is certainly in focus"
The question arises as to whether the Austro racing team also wants to commit for longer than one year. In any case, Perez got the maximum out of Shanghai, according to Marko. "The tires were at their limit in terms of the number of laps, so we couldn't risk any attacks," explained the man from Graz. In the final phase of the race, Lando Norris safely drove home his second place. The 24-year-old Briton, who extended his contract with McLaren by several years in January, is also a topic at Red Bull Racing. "Lando Norris is young. Lando Norris is certainly in focus," said Marko.

Norris does not yet have a Grand Prix win on his CV, which is why Marko has already joked with his father. "Then you have to come to us, then it will go faster," said Marko, after dad Norris said: "Maybe when Max retires." In addition to shooting star Norris, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton next year, is of course also a candidate for the second cockpit alongside Verstappen. However, the 29-year-old Spaniard, the only GP winner alongside Verstappen and Perez in the last 28 races, is also said to have an offer on the table from Audi.