Once Upon a Time, Sergio Perez Was Haas’ Prime Candidate

Despite Sergio Perez’s current struggles with Red Bull, he has a strong reputation for being one of the most solid drivers on the grid. Before joining the Austrian stable, he was a consistent driver for Force India/Racing Point. In fact, Guenther Steiner admitted that he was one of Haas’ biggest targets in the past.

“He was a good driver at the time,” said Steiner. “His behavior in the team was very good, he got on with people, which is always important. He was just a solid driver.”

Steiner reveals that he tried to sign Checo for Haas in the past

“…two times for Haas because he’s a good driver”

“He was a good driver at the time. His behavior in the team was very good, he got on with people, which is always important. He was just a solid driver.”… pic.twitter.com/WEDNd7lNqf

— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) August 8, 2024

The former Haas Team Principal explained how Perez wasn’t a race winner back then, and wasn’t considered championship material either. But being Haas, Steiner, and Co. did not expect someone competing for the Title to join them. That is why Perez was a good option.

However, the move never materialized, and Perez saw out his stint with team Silverstone until it rebranded to Aston Martin in 2021.

Perez joined Red Bull that year, and started competing at the front consistently, something he wasn’t used to. He had a decent start to life in Milton-Keynes, but things kept getting worse with each passing year, as struggles to cope with teammate Max Verstappen mounted.

In 2024, Perez’s poor form saw him on the verge of getting sacked, but Liberty Media reportedly intervened to save him, a claim that Helmut Marko has since denied.

Liberty Media didn’t help Perez, insists Marko 

Perez is a huge commercial asset to F1, because of his fame in Mexico and North America. With two American races and Perez’s home Mexican GP set to take place later this year, Liberty Media did not want to lose out on ticket sales because of the 34-year-old’s potential absence.

Marko, however, insisted that the decision to keep Perez was solely theirs. “They certainly want him to race in his home race, but our choice of the driver is not based on Liberty Media’s intentions,” the Red Bull advisor said. 

Perez’s seat for 2025 meanwhile, is by no means guaranteed. To continue with the Austrian stable, he has to make amends in the final 10 races of the campaign.