Former Racing Point and Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer has urged Red Bull to retain 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez alongside 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen for the 2025 F1 season.

Perez is out of contract at theꦡ end of 2024 and is fighting for his Re🦩d Bull future.

The Mexica♕n has started the season strongly, finishing second in three of the opening five races.

Perez has often star𒐪ted seasons strongly at Red Bull before petering out in the European part of the season - something he must avoid to stay with the team.

Szafnauer - who worked with Perez at Force India and Racing Point - would keep the five-time gra๊nd prix winner ifꦡ he was in Christian Horner’s shoes.

“I was in Abu Dhabi doing this F1 thing, David Coulthard was with me on stage, and I was asked the question, 'If you were Christian Horner, who would you replace Checo with?'" Szafnauer ♓said.

“I said 'Knowing Checo as well as I do, I would replace Checo with Checo'. If I were Christian, I would still keep🐭 him there for next year.”

Perez famously played a ﷽𝕴crucial role in Verstappen’s title triumph over Lewis Hamilton.

He managed to keep Hamꦅilton behind for a couple of laps, costing 🍬the Mercedes driver crucial time.

Had Perez not do♔ne that, it’s likely Hamilton would have been able to pit under the Virtual Safety Car when Verstappen did or have a big 🙈enough gap to stop for fresh rubber at the end of the race following Nicholas Latifi’s famous crash.

"Let's not forget, the first year Max won, it was p🍃artly because of Checo, partly because♔ of the circumstance," he added. "Don't just look at the last race, look at all the other races that also counted to that win.

"That was when he had the nickname in Mexico as the 'Minister of Defencඣe' or whatever he was. He's had some lows. This year, from what I can see, apart from a couple of races where I thin𒁃k he should have finished a bit higher, he's doing it."