Theory touted that losing your job is an F1 driver’s top motivator
“All of the drivers w𓆏ho are in form at the moment, ♋or have taken a step forward compared to last year, have been shown the door or are at-threat of being shown the door.”
Sergio Perez is an example of an F1 driver💟 who has found top form wꩵhile at-risk of losing his drive.
Perez has delivered three P2 finishes in the first four grands prix of the season, each time finishing behind Max Veꦜrstappen in a dre😼am result for Red Bull.
He entered the year under severe pressure but could now convince Red Bull to ignore alternative options by giving him a contract⛄ to stay next year.
“He has turned a page by focusing ꦓon his weekend,⭕” F1TV’s Alex Jacques told the podcast.
“If he goes back to looking across the garage?
“The moves are set up, the desperation, the feeling a need to perform immed☂iately in “FP1, make a statement in FP2 with qualy runs…
“I don’t think he’s doing that.
“If he focuses on himself, he’ll be fine.
“Also, to be blunt, there is n🗹o greater motivator in Formula 1 t𓂃han the potential of losing your job.
“All of the drivers who are in form at the momenওt, or have taken a step forward compared t🐻o last year, have been shown the door or are at-threat of being shown the door.”
Le Mans🌳 winner Tom Kristensen replied: “Like Hꦦelmut Marko said, Checo has found the pace but maybe he is also looking for a new contract.
“He put it bluntly.”
﷽There are more examples within F1 today of ✤drivers excelling themselves amid doubts over their futures.
“Overall, Carlos Sainz is in the form of his l🥀ife, r🐻eacting to being shown the door,” Jacques said.
“Yuki🍒 Tsunoda started the season under pressure, driving angry in Bahrain.
“There wꦫere rumours in ♋this paddock that he had to perform at the start of the year, or Liam Lawson is in.
“Yuki has responded brilliant🌜ly to that. He didn’t expect to be 4-0 up against Danny Ricc in qualy.
“There is nothing like a bit of moti𓆉vation ꦓto turn the page.
“And that’s what has happened to Checo, I think.”
Sainz has lost his 2025 Ferrari ꦡd𝔉rive to Lewis Hamilton.
He won the Au൲stralian Grand Prix𝐆 after heroically returning from appendix surgery.
Sainz is now t♓he winner of the only two grands prix since 2022 whi⭕ch Red Bull have failed to win.
RB’s Tsunoda has also out-performed tꦉeammate Daniel Ricciardo, who was tipped to earn the 2025 Red Bull seat.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sp𓃲orts for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to༺ F1.
