The five F1 drivers under the most pressure heading into 2024
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Sergio Perez Unsurprisingly, the first driver under the most pressure heading into F1 2024 is Sergio Perez.While the Mexican did secure his best-ever championship finish in 2023 – runner-up behind Max Verstappen – it was arguably Perez’s worst season in F1.It is important to acknowledge that while Perez does have a generational talent as his teammate, Perez isn’t doing himself any favours.Perez’s form in the mid part of F1 2023 was beyond acceptable for a someone driving the most dominant car in the history of the sport.
Between Monaco and Brazil, Perez finished on the podium just four times – Lando Norris for McLaren scored six top three finishes, as a comparison. The good news for Perez is that there’s no obvious replacement.Daniel Ricciardo still needs to show he’s at the level required to take on Verstappen – so far alongside Yuki Tsunoda, he hasn’t been able to do so.Norris is unlikely to leave a resurgent McLaren – plus is he going to want to go up against his best friend at this stage of his career?Team boss Christian Horner says Perez’s future is in his own hands – and he’s right.Logan SargeantFor 2024, Logan Sargeant was the 20th and final driver to be confirmed as a driver for the upcoming season.Related How one of Red Bull’s first F1 drivers became an FIA steward Schumacher’s lawyer explains why there’s no “final report” on the icon’s healthSargeant’s rookie season was underwhelming as he was whitewashed by teammate Alex Albon in qualifying.Given the lack of alternatives for Williams to choose from, Sargeant being retained was ultimately inevitable.
With Williams seemingly on the rise in terms of pace, the team cannot afford to have another season where Sargeant struggles to score points.If AlphaTauri had Ricciardo-Tsunoda as their line-up for the entirety of 2023, it’s probable Williams would have finished behind them.With a second year of experience under his belt, Sargeant should be better for it.Zhou GuanyuEven though Theo Pourchaire won the 2023 FIA Formula 2 title, Zhou Guanyu was kept on alongside Valtteri Bottas.Zhou’s lack of performance went under the radar in the latter part of the year, out-qualifying Bottas just once after the summer break.The Chinese driver seems to fare better in the race, and to his credit, rarely makes major mistakes.However, his ceiling doesn’t seem to be high enough to warrant a fourth season on the F1 grid should he not get the better of Bottas more often.Sauber have already called on Zhou to be “more consistent” in 2024.
“In some conditions, it’s been a struggle a bit more and we’re trying to understand what we can give him with the car and how we can work with the tyres, just to make sure he’s more consistent,” commented Sauber head of trackside engineering Xevi Pujolar.“In some conditions, he is a bit more sensitive to what he is feeling. The differences are not big but in terms of positions they are big, so we need to work on that for next year.“There is no room for any small drop or mistake.”A cynic may argue that Zhou was only retained because of the return of the Chinese Grand Prix in April.Unfair, perhaps, but he has to improve ahead of 2025.Kevin MagnussenWhile Haas did finish bottom of the constructors’ championship, Kevin Magnussen endured a poor year in 2023.”4Magnussen was consistently the slower of the two Haas drivers, particularly over one lap.The Dane openly admitted the VF-23 did not suit his driving style, explaining the substantial deficit to Nico Hulkenberg.
Magnussen is a proven driver, and on his day, is capable of some standout drives, Miami 2023 for example.But with Oliver Bearman potentially waiting in the wings – the 18-year-old Brit is part of Ferrari’s driver academy – a change for 2025 is a no-brainer for Haas if he can secure the F2 title.Daniel RicciardoThe whole point of Ricciardo’s F1 comeback is to return to Red Bull – that’s why he’s under immense pressure in 2024.Ricciardo’s sole ambition is to return to race-winning machinery and end his F1 career driving for a top team.2024 will ultimately define that.
It’s hard to read what level Ricciardo is at given that his comeback was disrupted by his wrist injury.When he did come back, aside from Mexico, he and Tsunoda were evenly-matched.The amount of pressure Perez is under will be determined by his own performances but also how well Ricciardo is faring at AlphaTauri.”5There’s an open goal for Ricciardo – let’s see if he can take it.
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