P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ralf Schumacher recently caused quite a stir with a remarkable claim about the reason why Sergio Perez is likely staying at Red Bull – but he appears to be wide of the mark.
Ralf Schumacher recently suggested that Red Bull retaining Sergio Perez was crucial for the team to afford Max Verstappen’s high salary. Schumacher implied that Perez’s sponsorship money helps balance Verstappen’s reported $55 million annual earnings. While a contract extension for Perez seems likely, some argue it makes sense for Red Bull due to financial reasons related to Verstappen’s salary. Despite the budget cap in F1 limiting team spending to $135 million, Verstappen’s salary does not exceed this threshold when added. Red Bull’s success in attracting major sponsors like Oracle and ByBit suggests that Perez’s sponsorship may not be essential for funding Verstappen. In conclusion, while Perez’s financial contributions are valuable, they might not be crucial for the Red Bull-Verstappen partnership’s sustainability.
