Perez missed out on pole position for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix to reigning world champion team-mate Max Verstappen by a slender 0.066 seconds as Red Bull scored a 1-2 result.
With Perez out of contract at the end of the year, many believed RB driver Daniel Ricciardo would take his place. However, the Australian has struggled against stablemate Yuki Tsunoda.
Combined with the availability of Carlos Sainz following Lewis Hamilton’s impending Ferrari switch, Fernando Alonso refraining from publicly committing his future to Aston Martin and the instability at the top of Red Bull impacting Verstappen, the Red Bull line-up is far from certain.
With both seats potentially available should Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff land ‘number one target’ Verstappen, Marko has suggested that Perez’s groove - having brought up the rear in Red Bull 1-2s in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – might be because contract talks are on the line.
Speaking to Sky Germany after qualifying in Suzuka, Marko said: “Last year [in Japan] in particular was Sergio's worst race. Everything went wrong then, so I think it's particularly satisfying for him.
“You can see he can do it. But perhaps it also plays a role that next year's contracts are at stake - this year much earlier than usual. That also seems to be very motivating.”
Marko added that the situation “has moved forward a lot” when it came to locking in a Red Bull driver pairing for 2025 but that more time was needed before making a final decision.
Source: Autosport