Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revealed that they have to find a solution to renew Checo Pérez’s contract
MIAMI.- Red Bull must find a solution to Checo Pérez’s contract, because his performance is the best since he arrived at the team, said Helmut Marko, special advisor to the Austrian Formula 1 team.
Interviewed outside the Red Bull paddock on Friday of the Miami Grand Prix, Helmut Marko, once a great critic of the Mexican driver, praised him again and felt confident in reaching an agreement.
“We are in talks and Sergio’s performance is the best so far since he arrived at Red Bull. I believe that we must find the solution,” Marko said when asked about the contract prospect for Checo Pérez.
“Everything at Red Bull is related to performance and if he is giving the results there is no problem in all areas and in all positions,” he added when questioned about the possibility of a two-year contract for Pérez.
When asked about the role of Carlos Sainz in Red Bull’s decision for Max Verstappen’s co-team seat, Marko did not rule it out but mentioned that Sainz has other options.
“Carlos Sainz is in one of his best seasons, I think he has other options,” Marko stated.
Regarding the announcement of star designer Adrián Newey leaving the team, Marko acknowledged him as a big loss but expressed confidence in the team’s extended technical staff.
“It is a big loss for Red Bull Racing and we are going to miss him as a personality, but on the other hand our technical team has been extended and is very good, young and experienced and talented, I don’t think there will be a drop in performance,” he said.
As for Checo Pérez, during the media day for the Grand Prix, he mentioned that his future would be defined sooner than he would like, but did not confirm if it would be with Red Bull as he is open to all options.
Regarding Checo Pérez’s contract renewal, Marko emphasized the importance of performance in all decisions at Red Bull and expressed optimism in finding a solution soon.