Red Bull's Critic Slams Perez, Eyes Alonso as Replacement
If you ask former F1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck, Red Bull's roster could use a shake-up. He'd love to see a new face alongside Max Verstappen, preferably an ex-champ. "Alonso in the Red Bull," Stuck gushed to Eurosport, turning 72 this year.
The spotlight has been shining hot on Sergio Perez lately, receiving repeated criticism for his performance as Verstappen's sidekick. Verstappen has racked up an impressive 524 points so far, more than twice Perez's 248. Stuck's opinion of the Mexican isn't glowing, especially after the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Perez gave away third place to Alonso in the final stretch.
Stuck is more impressed by Alonso's drive, praising his skill level and calling him one of a few drivers worthy of competing at Verstappen's level. Alonso's eight podium finishes this year have created quite a stir.
At the upcoming Las Vegas race on Sunday ((7 a.m./Sky and live ticker at ntv.de)), Alonso may be in the hunt for a top spot as Aston Martin seems to have recovered from its former weakness.
According to Stuck, Perez is still around due to his "de facto number two" status, peace within the team, and his contributions even if they could be improved with Alonso aboard. However, the possibility of Alonso joining the fizzy drinks manufacturer any time soon is highly doubtful—the Spaniard has always insisted on staying with Aston Martin.
Rumors have swirled around a potential driver change at Red Bull Racing, with Alonso's name often floating around. While Perez's performances in 2024 have contributed to Red Bull's drop to third place in the constructors' championship, the team has opted for a different replacement: Liam Lawson.
The young driver, who has been promoted from Red Bull's junior team, will take Perez's place in the 2025 season, partnering with Verstappen. Richard Wood, Perez's previous performance manager, will now serve as Lawson's race engineer. Unlike the buzz surrounding Alonso, no signs indicate that he'll be joining Red Bull Racing anytime soon.
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Despite Red Bull making a significant driver change for 2025, replacing Perez with Liam Lawson, Hans-Joachim Stuck's suggestion of Fernando Alonso replacing Perez hasn't materialized. The main reason for Perez's continued stay with Red Bull is his "number two" status and the team's overall calm. Despite rumors, Alonso has maintained his intention to stay with Aston Martin, with no current indication of a change.
