Helmut Marko has recognised that Max Verstappen is Red Bull’s key to getting back in the F1 constructors’ championship fight.
They could’ve just used the second seat for testing and to audition for the second driver. Letting Perez keep that seat was again a waste of time and money. Now Max has to carry the entire team by himself for next season like every season after Riccardo left.
“If Max wins races again and Sergio can finish third or fourth, things will look different again. But as I said, the focus is primarily on the drivers’ title.”
Sergio’s average finish is 8th.
Asking Max to win is like asking a boulder to be heavy. Asking perez to finish fourth? Might as well ask him to cure cancer too.
Considering that McLaren and arguably even Ferrari/merc, depending on the track, have jumped them on car performance, even Verstappen victories are very unlikely. I don’t know how they think perez is finishing anywhere near the podium in the current situation.