Schumacher: Perez should leave Red Bull

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Red Bull should release Sergio Perez at the end of the season due to tensions between the Mexican and teammate Max Verstappen.

Two-time champion Verstappen has built the Milton Keynes-based outfit around himself since stepping up from what was then the Toro Rosso team in 2016.

Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon both struggled against the Dutchman with Perez drafted in to add experience to the line-up as Red Bull attempted to overhaul Mercedes in 2021 - a move that proved partially successful with Verstappen securing his first title.

The team secured the double last season but the relationship between the teammates fractured at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last year when Verstappen refused to abide by team orders.

Tensions have seemingly continued into the new season despite a united front being portrayed, and former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver Schumacher has suggested a change of line-up would be beneficial for Red Bull.

"Sergio was strong in Azerbaijan and he has the potential, here and there, to be faster than Max," Schumacher said in his Sky Sports Deutschland column following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which Perez emerged from victorious.

"But with a view to the World Championship battle, I don't think he has the consistency of Verstappen. He also makes mistakes under pressure sometimes when he's not happy with the car. Verstappen doesn't make those mistakes, so I think he'll be the better driver over the year.

"There are many rumours circulating in the paddock about Perez's future.

"Red Bull would have options: There's a Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo is still around and there are also plenty of drivers on the market.

"If there is a troubled relationship between Verstappen and Perez, then it would make sense to part ways with the Mexican. If you look closely, you can see that the teammates don't get along well and when a team has two drivers who don't get along, that ends up being a big disadvantage."