Theory touted that losing your job is an F1 driver’s top motivator
“All of the drivers who are in form at🎃 the moment, or have taken a step forward compared to last year, have been sh𝔉own 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 while at-risk of losing hi🦹s drive.
Perez has delivered three P2 finishes in the f🦹irst four grands prix of the season, each time finishing behind Max Verstappen in a dream 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 on his weekend,😼🐷” F1TV’s Alex Jacques told the podcast.
“If he goes back to looking across the garage?
“The moves are set up, the desp🗹eratio𒅌n, the feeling a need to perform immediately 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, 𒅌there is no greater motivator in Formula 1 than the potential of losing your job.
“All of the drivers who 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.”
Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen replied: “Like Helmut Marko said, Checo has found the pace but mayb🐓e he is also looking for a new contrac൲t.
“He put it bluntly.”
There are more examples within F1 today of drivers ex🎀celling themselves amid doubts over their futures.
“Overall, Carlos Sainz is in the form of his life, ꦅreacting to🌳 being shown the door,” Jacques said.
“Yuki﷽ Tsunoda started the season und♈er pressure, driving angry in Bahrain.
“There were rumours in this paddock that he had to perform at the start of the year, or 𒉰Liam Lawson is in.
“Yuki has responded brilliantly to that🅷. He didn’🤡t expect to be 4-0 up against Danny Ricc in qualy.
“There 🦋is nothing like a bit of motivation toꦉ turn the page.
“And that’s what has happened to Checo, I think.”
Sainz has lꩲost his 2025 Ferrari drive to L📖ewis Hamilton.
He won the Australian Grand Prix after heroically returning from appendix 𝔍surgery.
Sainz is now the winner of the only two grands p💜rix since 2022 which Red Bull have failed to win.
RB’s Tsunoda has also out-pe🍒rformed teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who was tipped to earn the 2025 Red Bull seat.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering evꦆerythi﷽ng from American sports, to football, to F1.
