Why Red Bull chose to stand by Perez

Red Bull communicated soon after the Belgian Grand Prix that Sergio Perez will remain in place at the team until the end of the season following weeks of intense speculation over his future.

In the past, the Milton Keynes-based team did not shy away from changing its line-up, with Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly demoted back to Red Bull's second team to give someone new an opportunity.

But what is different now?

Previous examples of Red Bull driver swaps came at a time when the team was not contesting for world championships. Podiums were its best hope, or perhaps an odd victory would sneak its way in.

Ultimately, the stakes were not as high, but that has shifted dramatically now with Red Bull returning to a regular race-winner in recent years. 

With the F1 title on the line, it's blatantly obvious that there is no one at the level of Verstappen ready to come in and take over from Perez. There is no option available that would be a sure bet to bring home the constructors' championship, which does appear to be in danger amid Perez's ongoing form.

No matter how strong the likes of Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson appear to be on paper, jumping into a new car mid-season, right in the thick of a championship fight, undoubtedly puts the team at a disadvantage.

It must not be forgotten that the RB20 is no longer the clear strongest car in the field - so is Red Bull's reluctance to promote a lack of confidence in the drivers, or simply a method to protect them?

Red Bull continuity

What does Sergio Perez bring? The most to-the-point answer is 131 points. Any way you slice it, Red Bull is leading both championships with the line-up they have now. 

It may be painting an optimistic picture, but without those 131 points from Perez, Red Bull would not be in the lead. 

Perez's decline is not isolated either, as it runs parallel to Red Bull's slump as a team itself. The fact that the last few races were weaker than the first three or four is only natural.

While it's true that Verstappen gets much more out of the car than Perez and he makes significantly fewer mistakes, the point of Verstappen's unique talent can be reiterated.

Perez is a gamble in the hunt for the constructors' title - but so too is Tsunoda, Lawson or Daniel Ricciardo. 

The key difference is those drivers don't know the team in its current set-up as intensely as Perez does, which gives the Mexican driver an edge. Continuity is a great thing, especially in the turbulent Red Bull times it has been through.

Money will undoubtedly play a role as well. Perez is richly backed by well-paying partners, a theme that was also likely considered when making the final decision.

For now, Perez is not going anywhere and he will finish the 2024 season. The picture beyond the current season, however, is less clear.