Red Bull Bosses Contradict Each Other After Sergio Perez Appointment

Red Bull Racing’s team advisor Helmut Marko has openly contradicted team principal Christian Horner about the organization’s interest in Nico Hulkenberg before they confirmed Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2021 season.

Horner indicated that the German driver, who replaced Perez for two races during the 2020 season after the Mexican contracted COVID-19, was never in contention.

However, Marko revealed that the former Force India and Renault driver was a ‘serious candidate’ for the seat.

Hulkenberg, who drove three races in 2020, was also impressive despite coming in at the last minute without any testing knowledge. He scored points in two of the three races he entered, but Marko stressed that one of the main reasons he was overlooked was because Perez can give them more information about their main rivals Mercedes.

“Hulkenberg was definitely a serious candidate. We carefully analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the three candidates, Alexander Albon, Sergio Perez and Nico Hülkenberg. In the end, only one thing was decisive for Perez towards Hulkenberg: He was able to bring most of the knowledge about the Mercedes engine with him. Unfortunately, Nico Hulkenberg had too few appearances this season,” Marko said, as quoted on F1-Insider.

This was the first time since 2007 that Red Bull had to look outside their talent pool. The last person who's not in their program to represent the company was Mark Webber, who was Sebastian Vettel’s teammate during their championship-clinching campaigns between 2010 and 2013.

Hulkenberg, meanwhile, admitted that he was disappointed to yet again lose out on a seat in F1 after being pushed out of the sport in 2019.

However, he accepted that Perez was more deserving of the seat with Red Bull while vowing to be ready for any opportunity that may arise in the future.

“Sergio deserves the place. I can't change it and now I will continue to prepare for my own future. Keep me fit and be ready when I'm needed. This year you have seen what can happen,” Hulkenberg stated.