Ex-Red Bull junior says Perez "would not have lasted a year"

Former Toro Rosso driver and Red Bull junior Jaime Alguersuari says Sergio Perez's current poor form means the Mexican would not have lasted a year in Red Bull's junior programme.

In 2021, Perez became the first driver to sign for Red Bull from outside the team's academy since Mark Webber in 2007, after both Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon had flattered to deceive upon their respective promotions from Toro Rosso to Red Bull.

Under the watch of Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko, Red Bull are a notoriously demanding organisation, and have a history of dropping drivers mid-season if they are not deemed to be performing at the required level.

The team also use junior team AlphaTauri – known as Toro Rosso until 2019 – to evaluate their young drivers, with a view towards promoting promising ones to Red Bull Racing.

Perez was hired to replace Albon after a 2020 season in which the Mexican had driven well but was facing an F1 exit after being moved aside to make way for Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin.

Red Bull junior team "not successful"

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Alguersuari noted that the decision to hire Perez reflected badly on the quality of Red Bull's young driver programme, and said the Mexican would not have lasted long had he been under the Red Bull umbrella.

"The fact that Perez is driving for Red Bull shows the Red Bull junior team is not successful," said Alguersuari, who drove for Toro Rosso between 2009 and 2011.

"The whole idea they told us and the media is they are building champions, or the best drivers they can, to give them an opportunity to drive for AlphaTauri in order for them to get experience.

"For them to go somewhere else to find a driver at Red Bull is already controversial. It doesn't make sense.

"You are spending millions for years for many drivers to become champions in junior categories, to then go into F1, give them very little chance and cross your fingers you have a good car - otherwise you do nothing in F1 if you don't have a good car - you are at the back, then cross your fingers you drive for a winning car, which is Red Bull.

"We have to be clear that Checo [Perez] was never in the junior team. If he was, considering how Helmut Marko judges drivers, he would not have lasted a year."

"Not acceptable" for Perez to be so far off the pace

Having won two of the first four races of 2023, there were suggestions that Perez might be set to challenge Verstappen for this year's Drivers' Championship.

However, since then, the Mexican has floundered somewhat, scoring only two podium finishes as Verstappen has swept to six wins on the trot.

Alguersuari said it was unacceptable for Perez to be so far off Verstappen's pace, and suggested that several other drivers would be closer to the Dutchman.

"You have a winning car and have to use it," said Alguersuari.

"It's not acceptable that Perez is always half a second or seven-tenths slower.

"If your team-mate is winning all the races, you have to at least be on the podium, not on your best day being on the podium.

"You have to be closer otherwise they have the right to replace you.

"There are many drivers on the grid that could definitely be much closer to Max."