Perez keeps seat

[Dare]

I like Perez but I think he's had plenty of chances
to improve which he hasn't. Guess RB likes his sponsor money

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/motorsports/breaking-red-bull-make-sergio-perez-decision-following-intense-exit-speculation/ar-BB1qQkUd?ocid=hpmsn&cvi

[cosworth151]

It sounds like Checko is still on shaky ground for next season.

[Dare]

With F1 contracts he could still be gone by Italy

[Jericoke]

Like an F1 car, an F1 team is made of many complicated moving parts that have to work together to succeed.

Obviously someone with ultimate decision making capacity thinks that moving Perez out will shake things up more than the status quo will.

Is this part of the fight between Marko and Horner, itself a proxy between the Thais and the Austrians?

Is this a matter of going to Max and asking who he wants as a teammate?  From the radio we've heard him disparage Perez, but maybe he wants a punching bag for a teammate?  Maybe the radio calls are all part of some private joke and Max loves Perez and is looking out for him.

Maybe there have been inquiries, and while Red Bull has 'options' to replace Perez, they may not feel that a mid season replacement will provide enough results to afford the shake up.

[John S]

Seems Liberty & FIA may have had a hand in swaying the decision in Checo's favour. 

I seen rumours that Mexican GP may have been in financial jeopardy if Perez was dropped from roster. Possibly this explains the volte face that Red Bull unexpectedly performed.

[Jericoke]

Seems Liberty & FIA may have had a hand in swaying the decision in Checo's favour. 

I seen rumours that Mexican GP may have been in financial jeopardy if Perez was dropped from roster. Possibly this explains the volte face that Red Bull unexpectedly performed.

I understand that Perez is popular in Mexico, but it can't be a healthy business model if your multi day, multi hundreds of thousands of people, multi million dollar event hinges on a single person.

If having a Mexican driver really IS that important to the Mexican Grand Prix, maybe the organizers/country need to invest in an F1 team to ensure there is Mexican representation at the race.

(Even though there are a Canadian and American driver in F1, I don't feel like their presence really affects attendance at the Canadian and American races.  Aside from that, like half the calendar has races without local drivers, some countries have never had a local driver and do just fine)

[cosworth151]

I understand that Perez is popular in Mexico, but it can't be a healthy business model if your multi day, multi hundreds of thousands of people, multi million dollar event hinges on a single person.

Germany went from 2 GP's a year to zero after Schumi left. I doubt Barcelona would survive the loss of Alonso. Zanvoort wouldn't be back on the schedule without Max.

[Jericoke]

I understand that Perez is popular in Mexico, but it can't be a healthy business model if your multi day, multi hundreds of thousands of people, multi million dollar event hinges on a single person.

Germany went from 2 GP's a year to zero after Schumi left. I doubt Barcelona would survive the loss of Alonso. Zanvoort wouldn't be back on the schedule without Max.

When Alonso was winning championships Spain had two races as well.

I was surprised that Vettel's success wasn't enough to keep Germans interested in F1.  (I do understand there are other issues, such as the government not giving in to Bernie's demands to fund outrageous fees that other countries, including Canada, are happy to hand over)

We hear that F1 is a 'European' sport, but it looks like it's just British and Italian.  (Of course there's always a British driver and Ferrari representing Italy even ahead of Italian drivers)

[John S]

I guess another element in all this is how much Red Bull drink is consumed by Mexicans & Latinos in N.America. 

Maybe main Austrian marketing company have changed stance of usual backing for Marko and his plan to drop Checo, as it may cause very negative waves for them in that market place right now.