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Sergio 'Checo' Perez has encountered problems in the past two races, and this weekend started with issues in the practices for the Canadian GP. As a result, the Mexican driver went from being the main competitor to Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship to having the hottest seat in the paddock.
This is because rumors of a possible change in the Red Bull team's seats have resurfaced, as they seek a teammate for the Dutch driver.
Checo began the season with victories in two out of the first four races, and after Verstappen won in Miami, the gap between both drivers was only 14 points. But in the last two races, the Mexican has had a disappointing performance: being knocked out in Monaco due to a qualifying error that caused him to crash into the wall and start at the back of the grid, finishing with no points.
Then, in Spain, he started from 11th place and finished in fourth, but now the gap is 53 points. While Checo has shown he is one of the best drivers in the series, it is also true that he struggles to maintain consistent performance, which fuels speculation about a possible replacement, even though he is considered a "very good number two" for Verstappen.
According to the English newspaper Mirror Sport, there are three possible candidates vying for Checo's seat:
Lando Norris
The British driver is one of the brightest talents on the grid but has not yet had the desired opportunity with McLaren, a stagnant team. However, Norris already negotiated with Red Bull before extending his contract and g with McLaren early last year. The agreement runs until the end of the 2025 season, but that wouldn't be an obstacle for Red Bull if they decide to recruit him.
With the Austrian team, Norris would undoubtedly have more chances to win races and compete for the title. However, it is a strong profile to drive in Verstappen's shadow, which could be the main obstacle for him to sign with the Austrian team.
Yuki Tsunoda
The young Japanese driver has made an impressive debut in Formula 1 with the modest Alpha Tauri car that seemed to lack pace before his arrival. Tsunoda needed to showcase his talent at the highest level of competition through Red Bull's junior program.
Currently, he has been in the fight for points in every race so far this season, and although he has only scored in two races, experts agree that he is progressing as expected. Alpha Tauri team boss Franz Tost said Tsunoda "should drive for this team in 2024 and will be ready for Red Bull the following year," although the leap could come sooner than anticipated.
Daniel Ricciardo
This is the easiest and most popular move among fans, as Ricciardo maintains a low profile and is currently the Red Bull reserve driver, in addition to having previous experience with the team.