Red Bull make Sergio Perez decision after crunch talks having 'completely collapsed' at the Belgian Grand Prix - as Max Verstappen's team-mate endures slump in form

Sergio Perez will remain Red Bull's No2 driver for the second half of the Formula One season,the team have confirmed.

Perez had begun the Belgium Grand Prix second on the grid but finished in seventh after George Russell's disqualification.

Red Bull's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko described his performance as 'completely collapsing',leading to speculation over his status within the team heading into the second half of the season.

'Sergio had the opportunity to take a good result from second place. Unfortunately,that wasn't the case,' Marko told Sky Germany.

'Especially in the last stint,he completely collapsed,where he set 1m48s lap times. What looked so positive in qualifying unfortunately didn't materialise in the race.'

Perez has not had a podium finish since the fourth race of the season amid a slump in form

Red Bull remain top with 408 points,but McLaren-Mercedes have closed the gap and are now 42 points adrift.

Perez,a five-time race winner,who helped clinch Red Bull's first one-two in the drivers' standings last year,only signed a new contract with the team last month.

The 34-year-old's extension will keep him with the team until the end of the 2026 season.

Despite not having not won a race since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in April 2023,Perez had been seen as a reliable No2 behind Verstappen.

The Formula One season resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix from August 23 to 25 following the mid season break.

Max VerstappenSergio Perez