He talked a massive game during the opening races, but he’s failed to get into Q3 at half the races so far. It’s incredible how Verstappen just stomps everyone thrown into the other car, young or experienced, and in every area. I honestly don’t think Checo “the tyre whisperer” Perez is better than Ver at tyre-saving, nor strategy, nor raw pace…
Is there anyone who RB would feasibly replace Per with? Maybe Norris? I’m not a huge fan personally, but I know he’s got plenty of cachet at the moment.
I think, that the current situation might be the best possible one for Redbull. In F1 there is and will always be competition between teammates, this is natural and good for the sports. It is only logical that Checo had a go at the championship, therefore Redbull will be very happy to see that he failed this miserably. If anything, Checo can put his title aspirations to rest and be the second driver that Redbull wants him to be. Not saying that I don’t want Checo to win the championship, but he is currently also realizing that he will not win it from Max. This realization could make him a better second driver, a role in which I think he would fit perfectly at Redbull for years to come.
Red Bull will want to win both championships, Perez is being helped out by Merc and Ferrari being off the pace and Stroll not performing the same as Alonso. If any one of those 3 teams had their ducks in a row then Perez would be under extremely high pressure to get podiums. Right now with the 2 works teams and Alonso fighting for points it keeps Red Bull on top.
I think your logic is slightly flawed. If your driver is aiming to be second best, then they’re already spent. You can’t have Perez out there looking to be just slightly worse than Max. You want him to think he can win, always hovering in the vicinity, but never offering a real threat (just like Bottas).
I think the reason why Gasly and Albon failed so spectacularly is because they were both told, “don’t even try and beat Max, just get close” and they were too inexperienced and insecure to say “fuck that”.
If Checo now believes he can’t beat Max, that is probably the reason he isn’t even close to P2 anymore. Because no matter what he does, he will ascribe his failures to “not being as good as Verstappen”.