Red Bull's Sergio Perez faces mounting pressure to keep his seat, as he suffers another setback in Sprint qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix. The Mexican driver is enduring his worst season with Red Bull, sitting eighth in the standings and not finishing on the podium since the Chinese Grand Prix. Despite Christian Horner setting a target for Perez to aid the team's bid for the Constructors' Championship, his struggle to beat Red Bull's junior team is only making room for speculation that he could be replaced by Liam Lawson.
Perez's Struggles Mount as Pressure Intensifies for Red Bull Seat
Sergio Perez's tenure at Red Bull has been facing increasing scrutiny, as the Mexican driver endures a disappointing season amidst mounting pressure to retain his seat.
Background
Perez joined Red Bull in 2021, replacing Alexander Albon as Max Verstappen's teammate. Initially, Perez showed promising form, securing a victory in the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. However, his performance has since waned.
Current Season Struggles
In the 2022 season, Perez has struggled to keep pace with Verstappen, who has dominated much of the championship. Perez sits eighth in the standings, without a podium finish since the Chinese Grand Prix in April.
Sprint Qualifying Setback
Perez's latest setback came during the Sprint qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix. He started eighth but failed to make up positions, finishing seventh. This result further raised questions about his competitiveness compared to Red Bull's junior team drivers, such as Liam Lawson.
Mounting Pressure
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has publicly set a target for Perez to aid the team's bid for the Constructors' Championship. However, Perez's continued struggles have fueled speculation that he could be replaced by Lawson in the future.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why is Perez struggling this season?
There is no clear-cut explanation for Perez's struggles, but factors such as car setup, driving style, and confidence may be contributing.
2. Who is Liam Lawson?
Liam Lawson is a New Zealand racing driver who is currently part of Red Bull's junior team. He has shown impressive performances in Formula 2 and is seen as a potential replacement for Perez.
3. How long has Perez been with Red Bull?
Perez has been with Red Bull for two seasons, joining the team in 2021.
4. What other drivers have been rumored as potential replacements for Perez?
Besides Liam Lawson, other drivers linked to the Red Bull seat include Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg.
5. What is the likelihood of Perez being replaced?
The likelihood of Perez being replaced depends on his performance in the remaining races of the 2022 season. If he fails to show significant improvement, Red Bull may consider making a change.
India's star bowler Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his sudden retirement from Test cricket amid reports of injuries and uncertainty about his place on the team. The decision, made just before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, has left his teammates and fans in shock. Ashwin, who has picked up 537 wickets in 106 Tests, was not a consistent starter in overseas matches and struggled with injury problems in his final days on the field.
Former India captain Virat Kohli wrote a heartfelt post on the retirement of his longtime teammate Ravichandran Ashwin from international cricket. Kohli mentioned that he only found out about Ashwin's decision on Wednesday, but a video that went viral on social media showed Kohli hugging Ashwin, possibly after finding out about his retirement. However, captain Rohit Sharma revealed that he had known about Ashwin's decision since the Perth Test in November, indicating that there may have been previous conversations about retirement within the team.
In a thrilling quarter-final match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace, Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus scored all three goals for Arsenal, including a controversial second goal from an offside position. Despite protests from Crystal Palace, there was no video review available as per the competition rules. Jesus' hat trick, his first for Arsenal, secured a 3-2 victory and a spot in the League Cup semifinals for the Gunners.
Arsenal's win against Crystal Palace with a dominant performance from Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick, proves that their offensive struggles are not just due to a lack of a top striker. The Gunners' issue is instead a creative one, as they rely heavily on Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard for attacking prowess. While the team may still be in need of reinforcements, this win showed that Arsenal has the potential to perform without a star striker.
After a shocking announcement of retirement from international cricket, legendary all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin will continue playing in IPL 2025 for Chennai Super Kings. He retired right after the conclusion of the Gabba Test, where India managed to secure a draw against Australia. With the return of "Ash Anna" to CSK's spin department, fans can expect an even more dominant performance from the five-time IPL champions.
Scottish defender Kieran Tierney is set to make his first appearance for Arsenal since the 2023 Community Shield Final as he starts in tonight's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace. He spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad in La Liga and has returned to Arsenal after representing Scotland in Euro 2024. Manager Mikel Arteta has made eight changes to the team, including the inclusion of Tierney along with several other players. However, injuries continue to sideline players like Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while goalkeeper Neto is ineligible to play in this competition.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praises Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus for his outstanding performance in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace. Jesus, who had scored only two goals in the entire year, came to his team's rescue with an impressive 27-minute treble that secured a 3-2 victory. Arteta admits the team relies on individual players like Jesus, but also emphasizes the importance of team performance and consistency.
After three months on the sidelines, Federico Chiesa made his much-awaited return to the pitch for Liverpool in their EFL Cup quarter-final match against Southampton. Despite not starting, Chiesa was subbed on in the second half and played a key role in helping Liverpool secure a 2-1 victory. The Italian forward had previously faced limited playing time since joining the club in August, but with this performance, he has shown that he is ready to contribute to the team's success.
Young superstar Kylian Mbappe leads Real Madrid to victory in the Intercontinental Cup 2024 final against CF Pachuca, scoring a goal and assisting in another to secure a 3-0 win for his team. Mbappe was able to put behind his previous World Cup 2022 final loss as he helped Real Madrid claim the championship title in Qatar.
Cristiano Ronaldo took to Instagram to praise his fellow Brazilian Vinicius Jr for being named The Best FIFA Men's Player, becoming the first Brazilian to win the award in 16 years. Ronaldo hailed Vinicius as a "symbol of resistance and resilience" not just for his on-field talent, but also for his ongoing battle against racism. Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti also received an award at the ceremony, stating that football has given him "a lot of emotions" throughout his 48-year-long career.